Monte d'Accoddi

About the museum

The sanctuary of Monte d’Accoddi stands a few kilometres from Sassari and is a unique site of prehistoric Sardinian archaeology. The site was discovered in the 1950s by the archaeologist Ercole Contu; the first excavations brought to light imposing structures, including two superimposed temple buildings dating to the final Neolithic and the Copper Age.

The main monument is a terraced altar of rectangular plan, 37 by 30 metres and about 10 metres high in its present state, built with large roughly squared blocks of limestone and reached at the top by a ramp 42 metres long. Research from the 1980s, directed by Santo Tiné, revealed inside the structure an older temple, finished with red-painted plaster and for this reason called the “Red Temple” (Tempio rosso), dating to around 3000 BC and then enclosed in the later construction of around 2700 BC. This part cannot be visited for reasons of protection and safety.

In the surroundings a village of the Ozieri culture has been found, and a ceremonial centre with menhirs, sacrificial slabs and spheroidal blocks; in the territory there are hypogeal necropolises, dolmens and menhirs. The place was frequented in several phases, from the Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age. Some of the most significant finds are displayed at the Museo nazionale “Giovanni Antonio Sanna” in Sassari. The site is managed by the Direzione regionale Musei nazionali Sardegna.

Highlights

• Terraced altar in the shape of a truncated pyramid, 37 by 30 metres
• Access ramp 42 metres long
• Remains of the “Red Temple” (not visitable) inside the altar
• Ozieri culture village, menhirs and sacrificial slabs
• Guided visits by booking

Permanent exhibition

• Santuario preistorico di Monte d'Accoddi – Route through the archaeological area with the truncated pyramid altar, the ramp, the remains of the village and the monuments of the pre-nuragic ceremonial centre.

Operated by

Direzione regionale Musei nazionali Sardegna (Ministero della Cultura)

Admission & discounts

Free admission: First Sunday of every month, and on particular events announced by the Ministry of Culture or the Comune di Sassari.

Free admission under DM 507/1997 for state sites, also for teachers, EU tourist guides, registered journalists, Ministry of Culture staff, ICOM and ICCROM members and other categories. Concessions with the Carta cultura giovani, the Carta del merito and the Carta del docente.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Children under 12 must always be accompanied.

Getting there & parking

The sanctuary is along the Strada Statale 131 at kilometre 222.2, a few kilometres from Sassari.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit