Mara, Church of Our Lady of Bonu Ighinu

The sanctuary is located in a wild area of pastures enclosed between mountain reliefs (Monte Rattari, 468 m above sea level; Monte Traessu, m 719 above sea level; Costa del Cossoine, m 631 above sea level; Monte Lamenta, m 398 above sea level). It is preceded by a spectacular bastion square, which is accessed through two staircases.
The state of neglect in which the Bonu Ighinu complex has been in for some time has now transformed into ruins all the “cumbessias” that hosted pilgrims during the so-called novenary. The country church may also have played the role of the parish church of a medieval village that was later abandoned. Dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, it owes its forms to renovations and extensions dated 1797.
The façade seems to be inspired by the complex wooden altar machines of the 17th and 18th centuries. It starts from orders of superimposed, richly decorated columns, and is divided into three horizontal bands by projecting frames. The succession of the columns is concluded in the higher order by pillars equipped with small spires penetrating the atmosphere, such as large processional rods. The portal and the window of the midsection, both rounded, are surrounded by a rich, unnoticed ribbon decoration.
The columns, the pillars and the strong horizontal frames certainly constitute a motif with a more evident and vital plastic consistency, but the whole does not lose its chromatic-planar character; and so the entire façade is offered as a large and well-composed graphic page, illuminated by the clear material that constitutes it, vibrant by the light and elegant carving that embellishes it.
The terminal frame descends, from its central apex with the cross, to small flaps like the hem of a canopy, repeating in its own way the indented motif of the Carmine church in Bosa. The pattern of the Bosana church was in fact taken up, in separate combinations, and interpreted by differently educated workers, not only here in Mara but also in the church of the Madonna della Salute in Pozzomaggiore and in that of Santa Maria di Usini, to name but the most interesting examples.

History of studies
The church is the subject of a brief summary in Salvatore Naitza's volume on late seventeenth-century and purist architecture (1992).

Bibliography
V. Mossa, From Gothic to Baroque in Sardinia, Sassari, 1982; T.K. Kirova-A.
Tramontin-A. Bergamini, “Architectures of popular religion in 17th century Sardinia, in 17th century art and culture of the 17th and 18th centuries in Sardinia. Proceedings of the National Conference, Naples, 1984;
S. Naitza, Architecture from the late 17th century to purist classicism. Nuoro, Ilisso, 1992, sheet 39.

How to get
There From “Carlo Felice” take the SS 292 towards Cossoine-Pozzomaggior-Mara. After traveling about 3 km, from the small village of Mara you can access, through a dirt road on the d., the secluded area of Bonu Ighinu. The road, passing through the few remains of the castle of Bonvehi, founded by the Doria in the 13th century, after an impervious stretch (about 4 km from the crossroads) leads to the country sanctuary.