Sedilo, Church of Santu Antine

The sanctuary is located on the S/E of the town, on the edge of the plateau above the N shore of Lake Omodeo, in a natural amphitheater surrounded by walls locally called “sa Corte de Santu Antine”. It is accessed through two arches, one of which, built in the 17th century in reddish vulcanite and called “on a ferru portal”, has a round frame.
The structure of the church dates back to the mid-16th century and reflects the typical styles of Gothic-Catalan architecture. Of this first factory, in addition to the walls of the sacristy, the “capilla mayor” remains with a quadrangular plan, a pointed arch of access and cross vaults ribbed on variously sculpted feet.
The church that we see today is the fruit of a radical work of expansion and renovation started in the second half of the 18th century that led to the lengthening of the room and the subsequent construction of the powerful bastion body - called “up strong” - which supports the weight of the new structure and creates a sort of churchyard in front of the entrance. The work had to be completed by 1789, a date that can be deduced from the two walled tombstones on the side of the entrance portal and, inside, in the second pillar on the right.
The façade consists of a wide and smooth rectangular façade considerably extended in width and surmounted by a curvilinear pediment. It is made of perfectly squared reddish vulcanite ashlars. On the façade, the tympanated portal framed by two columns on classical plinths opens, as well as the three small shell niches placed around it.
The interior consists of a single barrel-vaulted aisle and side chapels opening onto the room by means of round arches that rest on powerful quadrangular pillars.
From an architectural point of view - also given the landscape context - the popular arrangement of the complex, very well structured, is perhaps more interesting: the enclosure with its large portals, the trees, the seats, the long porches for pilgrims and merchants, the circular area for penitents tangent to the road where the “Ardia” takes place every year, between 5 and 7 July, the “Ardia”, the reckless horse race in honor of Saint Constantine.

History of studies
The church is recorded by Vico Mossa in his work on modern Sardinian architecture.

Bibliography
V. Mossa, From Gothic to Baroque in Sardinia, Sassari, 1982;
L. Orlando, The Jubilee Churches in Sardinia, Sestu, 2000.

How to get there
From the SS 131 dir (Abbasanta-Nuoro), take the junction about 13 km from Abbasanta near the Sedilo tunnel. The sanctuary, one of the most popular on the island, is located on a rural site outside the town, marked by signs.