Now Francesca shows us one of the largest Sardinian nuraghe, the “red giant”, the nuraghe of Arrubiu: “giant” because of its dimension and “red” because it is covered by lichens.

What makes this nuraghe a “unicum” is its structure: a central donjon surrounded by five towers in their turn surrounded by walls with other seven towers.

The walls are contained by a second bailey defended by a third bailey with three towers.

Its “giant” size can be expressed by two numbers: 21 towers in all and an area of 5.000 m². (5980 sq yd).

A bit of history:

The complex probably dates back to 1500 BC ad was abandoned in 9th century BC for unknown reasons.
It was abandoned until 100 BC when the Romans converted it to their needs: in fact here were discovered oenological laboratories and equipment for the grapes pressing.
It remained inhabited until the Early Middle Ages and was definitively abandoned at the Fall of the Roman Empire.
Like all the giants of the tales it remained asleep for 10 centuries, protected by the hill, until in 1981 it was discovered.

For more info:
wikipedia: Nuraghe_Arrubiu
www.nuraghearrubiu.it

Thank to our friend Francesca for the beautiful photographs