Sassari, Church of Santa Barbara di Li Punti

The church, near the current hamlet of Li Punti, was built on the rural site of the “villa” of Innoviu or of Annoico, mentioned in the “Condaghe di San Pietro di Silki” (11th-13th century).
The church of Santa Barbara represents an interesting example of minor Romanesque architecture, which draws its main source of charm from its organic insertion into the landscape.
The epigraph of consecration is engraved on the rib of the north portal, which, although mutilating, may refer to years between 1270 and 1280.
The church, built in medium-sized limestone ashlars, perfectly squared and with rows of terracotta inserts, has a single-bay floor plan with wooden roof and an S/E apse.
The façade is concluded by a large sailing bell tower, clamped between corner piles and decorated with double-girded arches carved in a single ashlar. The apsidal headboard has no corner protester, with single-ring ogival arches that also align in the sides. All the arches have a housing for ceramic basins in the bezel, almost all of them removed. Only one, with the figure of a fish, has survived 'in site'.

History of studies
The church is mentioned by Enrico Costa (1937). Raffaello Delogu included it in his study of medieval architecture in Sardinia (1953). The most up-to-date contributions are by Roberto Coroneo (1993) and Marisa Porcu Gaias (1996).

Bibliography
E. Costa, Sassari, Sassari, Gallizzi, 1937, p. 1200;
R. Delogu, The Architecture of the Middle Ages in Sardinia, Rome, The State Library, 1953, pp. 193-195;
M. Botteri, Guide to the Medieval Churches of Sardinia, Sassari, Chiarella, 1978, pp. 129; A. Cesaraccio-V.
Mossa, Sassari and his face, Sassari, Carlo Delfino, 1983, p. 267;
R. Coroneo, Romanesque architecture from the mid-thousand to the early '300. Nuoro, Ilisso, 1993, sheet 106;
M. Porcu Gaias, Sassari. Architectural and urban history from its origins to 600, Nuoro, Ilisso, 1996, p. 36;
R. Coroneo, Romanesque Churches of Sardinia. Cultural tourist itineraries, Cagliari, AV, 2005, p. 26.