Nuraghe Nolza
Large nuraghe with a quadrilobed bastion on the Cuccurru Nolza hill near Meana Sardo, with a central tower open to climbing to the top and a village of huts.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Nolza nuraghe is one of the largest and best-preserved prehistoric monuments in central Sardinia, in the Barbagia on the slopes of the Gennargentu. It stands on the Cuccurru Nolza hill, at 740 metres above sea level on the Su Pranu plateau, about seven kilometres from Meana Sardo. A large central tower, now about 13 metres high, is enclosed in a bastion with four corner towers, a layout reminiscent of Su Nuraxi at Barumini.
The monument was built in several phases: the oldest parts use schist blocks (14th–13th centuries BC), the later additions porphyry in polygonal masonry (around the 12th century BC). Beneath the tower extends a village of huts covering about 2.5 hectares, considered by researchers to be the original settlement and dated to the 16th–15th centuries BC. Studied since 1940, the site was excavated from 1988 under the direction of Giovanni Lilliu, with further campaigns between 1994 and 2000; the most recent excavations have brought to light several interior rooms.
The finds include pottery from the Middle and Late Bronze Age, tools, grinding stones, obsidian sickle elements and animal bones. A staircase allows visitors to climb to the top of the nuraghe and enjoy a wide view; nearby is an information and documentation centre.
Highlights
- Central tower about 13 m high in a bastion with four towers
- Climb to the top of the nuraghe with panoramic view
- Village of huts covering about 2.5 hectares
- Finds from the Middle and Late Bronze Age
- Trenino Verde stop about 300 m away
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €2 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €1 |
| Guided tour of the nuraghe (2025 openings) | €4Booking required; combined reduced ticket €4, ethnographic route €2. |
Admission prices as listed by the Ministry of Culture (2021); for the 2025 guided tours the ticket was €4.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
The site can be reached by car from Meana Sardo or by the Trenino Verde, with a stop about 300 m from the monument.
The site is about 7 km from Meana Sardo.
Get directionsAmenities & 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
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Guided tours can be booked at +39 0784 64183 or +39 375 677 5128, or by writing to areaarcheologica.nuraghenolza@gmail.com. |
