A few kilometres from Alghero lies one of the Mediterranean's most remarkable prehistoric cemeteries. The Necropolis of Anghelu Ruju contains thirty-eight underground chamber tombs dating back more than five thousand years, making it the largest prehistoric necropolis in northern Sardinia.
Known as domus de janas—"houses of the fairies" in Sardinian folklore—the tombs were carefully carved into soft sandstone to resemble homes for the dead. Inside, visitors discover pillars, carved ceilings, symbolic false doors and traces of red ochre, offering rare insight into the rituals and beliefs of Sardinia's Neolithic communities.
The site remained in use for well over a millennium, spanning several prehistoric cultures. Later excavations uncovered hundreds of artefacts, including pottery, stone tools and ornaments that now help archaeologists reconstruct daily life on the island thousands of years before the Nuragic civilisation emerged.
Despite its importance, Anghelu Ruju receives only a fraction of the visitors attracted to Sardinia's beaches, allowing ample opportunity to wander quietly through this extraordinary underground world where archaeology and legend meet.
Read more:
Sardegna Cultura https://www.sardegnacultura.it
Sardegna Turismo https://www.sardegnaturismo.it
Written by Sardinian
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