We are in the territory of the Meilogu , a mainly volcanic area that with the characteristic conical hills make their appearance very unique in the context of a geologically ancient land. In this area the soils are among the most fertile and the whole area is rich in pastures. In our itinerary we analyzed a wide area and took as a reference point from which to start, Banari , a small and charming town of about 600 inhabitants. Before making the itinerary I asked myself, what to see in Banari? I found many answers simply by reading different blogs, trying to study the best path on our digital platform. I brought everything back into practice by walking through the beautiful and narrow streets of the town and along the neighboring streets between nature, history and tradition.
What to see in Banari
INDEX
BANARI
Banari , a small medieval village that shows its best during one of the most characteristic festivals, the Carrelas in festa with handicraft exhibitions and a large number of stalls with typical Sardinian products. Our morning walk in Banari surprised us incredibly, what to see then? Not only did we see a delightful authentic Sardinian village. We also met a nice local lady who accompanied us through the narrow streets and showed us some interesting sites. The oratory of Santa Croce , wonderful, the beautiful flower decorations near the square. In addition, the beautiful and above all clean streets of the village, the parish of San Lorenzo and finally the part, in our opinion, the best of Banari: Sa Camminera .
This route was once a private route of the Solinas-Zamboni ladies who could get away from prying eyes and reach the family chapel. We immersed ourselves in that path, in the silent nature, with only the sound of the leaves moved slightly by the wind. Sensational is the fact that for a moment my wife and I tried to imagine what the ladies could talk about, perhaps about some secret, or a passionate intrigue, or how things were going in the village. One thing is certain, the surrounding environment was the perfect outline for any kind of discussion.
S'ADDE MANNA WATERFALL
What to see in Banari? Here we go, let's start with nature. In the area surrounding the town we find S'Adde Manna , a large valley that extends at the foot of Banari, rich in fertile soils due to the springs and the two rivers. It was summer and from the photos you can clearly see how there was little water (it is therefore not like the Triulintas waterfall, always in the area which has running water all year round, read our article ). In any case, it remains a waterfall that in a period like spring becomes spectacular.
This waterfall, called S'Abbe Manna is none other than one of three jumps present in this natural area. Near the waterfall there are also the remains of a nuraghe , all in a breathtaking environment surrounded by nature. The path to get to the waterfall is not difficult but unfortunately it is not marked on google maps . Starting from Banari and after leaving the Logudoro Meilogu Foundation , continue northwards arriving in the Badde Manna area where a walking path will begin along the Rio Mannu. We crossed a forest of enormous beauty until we reached the first of the 3 waterfalls. The path is easy and we did it as a family, with 3 year old Asia and 1 year old Noah, with great simplicity, unfortunately there was not enough water and the other 2 waterfalls were dry. In any case, a beautiful experience in contact with nature.
NURAGHE CORVOS
Near Banari and exactly in the municipality of Florinas we point out the presence of a very beautiful Nuraghe , immediately adjacent to the road and with a structure that must be respected. Think that Corvos is a complex type nuraghe consisting of a main tower and a bastion with two secondary towers. We especially appreciated the context in which it is immersed, nature that grows naturally and cacti characterize the whole area. One of our lively suggestions, visit it during the artichoke harvest period (usually between October and April). The scenery of a nuraghe, tall and majestic, immersed in the middle of an artichoke field is stunning. Crazy right?!?! What to see in Banari and surroundings? Much!
SANTA MARIA DI CEA CHURCH
We are around 1350 and in this area there was the Village of Seve , under the Aragonese government, which included a dozen men fit for arms and as many families. This was their monumental complex, a medieval monastery which, as we could see during our visit, remained practically intact until the twentieth century (then it was the subject of archaeological excavations). Little and nothing is known about this beautiful and fascinating place of worship , so much so that there is a lot to study about the history in Sardinia. Now the complex of Santa Maria di Cea consists of a Romanesque church, a fenced courtyard used up to 50 years ago for the breeding of animals and some small buildings. Nice, but it would be interesting to analyze and study its history in more depth, so as to spread it to us enthusiasts and travelers.
OUR LADY OF MESUMUNDU
We are near Banari and more precisely in the municipality of Siligo . Here, near the provincial road, there is a small Byzantine church of great architectural and historical value, our lady of Mesumundu also known as Santa Maria di Bubalis . Let's start from what the researchers say, this temple was in use in the Byzantine era as a baptistery, for this mesumundu therefore located in the middle between the world of the living and that of the dead. The temple was therefore dedicated to the worship and virtues of water considered miraculous for the sick who immerse themselves in one of the pools present. Think that this small temple is incredibly similar to the baptistery of Yalova , in Turkey both for its very simple structure and for the uses that were made of it. The door of the church was quietly open but parts of the interior floor have given way, so be extremely careful when entering. Now you know what to see also around Banari like this extraordinary Byzantine testimony.
