Place Details

Sarroch

Located in the western part of the Golfo degli Angeli, on the southwestern coast of Sardinia. The small town of Sarroch lies on a Quaternary-era plain at the foot of a modest relief of volcanic origin.

Sarroch, veduta della piana su cui sorge il centro abitato
Sarroch, veduta della piana su cui sorge il centro abitato 

The town was founded around the 11th century AC, becoming part of the Giudicato of Cagliari with the name of San Rocco. After the fall of the Giudicato of Cagliari in 1258, it passed into the hands of the Della Gherardesca family of Pisan origin.

Sarroch, croce. Veduta del centro abitato
Sarroch, croce. Veduta del centro abitato 

Later, with the Aragonese invasion in 1324, it was entrusted as a feud to various Spanish noble families. Just as the town began to depopulate following the frequent Barbary incursions. During the 17th century it was rebuilt and repopulated by peasants from the Gerrei area, in the safer inland location where it still stands today. 

With the launch of the petrochemical industrial site in the late 1960s, Sarroch experienced a steady urban growth, which, however, did not alter its charming historic centre. This stretches around the parish church of Santa Vittoria, a neo-Baroque church from the early 18th century, and is bound by the Town Hall to the north and the ancient Villa Siotto to the south.

Sarroch, chiesa di Santa Vittoria. La piazza durante la processione della festa di Santa Vittoria
Sarroch, chiesa di Santa Vittoria. La piazza durante la processione della festa di Santa Vittoria 
Sarroch, Casa Maxia. Aerial view
Sarroch, Casa Maxia. Aerial view 

In the oldest part of the village, the dwellings are one- to two-storey courtyard houses typical of southern Sardinian architecture: the walls are usually made of adobes (called ‘ladiri’ in Sardinian language) or from local stone, occasionally, the plasters are made of lime mortar and the wooden beam roofs are covered with clay tiles. Great arched wooden portals open to a central courtyard, often with a garden and a well, and the house’s living spaces arranged around it.

Sarroch, Monte Nieddu, Is Cioffus Gorge. Punta Sapienza
Sarroch, Monte Nieddu, Is Cioffus Gorge. Punta Sapienza 

The local district of Sarroch (Sarrocu in the Sardinian language), covers about 70 square kilometres and is located on the west coast of the Golfo degli Angeli, about 25 km from the city of Cagliari. Its landscape unfolds in a rich variety of forms, from rugged mountains and gentle hills to sweeping plains and an extensive coastline. One of the tributaries of the Rio di Pula River, which meanders into the Sulcis mountains as far as the state forest of Monte Nieddu and the slopes of Monte Maxia, passes through this area. Its flora is the typically Mediterranean scrub such as cistus, mastic tree, carob tree, holm oak, pine and olive trees.

Sarroch, nuraghe Antigori. Particolare della scala
Sarroch, nuraghe Antigori. Particolare della scala 

This land is blessed with many archaeological remains and monuments, especially from the Nuragic period (1800-700 B.C.): about twenty nuraghi and a dozen tombs of the giants. Among the most important nuraghi are those of Sa Domu 'e S'Orcu and Antigori. The former consists of two towers and an inner courtyard, the latter is an even more imposing building with at least four towers joined by a wall bastion.

Along the coast, the three Spanish towers (Antigori, Del Diavolo and Della Zavorra) built between 1500 and 1600 to protect the town and countryside from Barbary pirates, are still well preserved. Sarroch also hosts the only royal villa on the entire island: Villa d'Orri, built in 1700 as the summer residence of the Savoy family.

Sarroch, Villa d'Orri. Giardino
Sarroch, Villa d'Orri. Giardino 

Map

Discover the Attractions

Batteria Sa Punta

The locality known as 'Sa Punta' is located in the south-western coastal periphery of the municipality of Sarroch, at the southern end of the coast of Sardinia.

Casa Mascia

One of the most interesting and emblematic buildings is undoubtedly Casa Maxia. The building, now owned by the municipality, is located in the heart of Sarroch's historic centre.

Nuraghe Antigori

In the north-eastern part of the municipal territory of Sarroch, on the summit of a hill of volcanic origin called Antigori, stands the nuraghe of the same name.

Torre del Diavolo

The Torre del Diavolo (Devil's Tower), also known as 'Turri e su Scolliu' and in the past as 'Sa Torritta', is a watchtower on a promontory between Punta Zavorra and the ancient landing place of Porto Columbu, in the south-eastern area of Sarroch territory.

Villa d’Orri

Villa d'Orri is located on the northern outskirts of the municipality of Sarroch, in a very suggestive and fascinating setting between the sea and the countryside.

Villa Siotto Park

Located on the southern outskirts of Sarroch, at the foot of the hill known locally as 'S'Arroca de Matt'e Gravellus', the Park consists of three main elements: a noble villa dating back to the early 20th century, the outbuildings and surrounding woodland.