The territory of Planargia is dotted with archaeological sites from the Nuragic era and crossed by numerous watercourses. Santa Maria di Corte is located on the rural site of Cabu abbas or Caput aquae, so called because of the springs that gushed nearby. In the Middle Ages, it was an abbey attached to an important Cistercian monastery.
According to the “Libellus Judicum Turritanorum”, during the pilgrim journey to the Holy Land, the Turritan sovereign Gonario de Lacon-Gunale met Bernardo di Chiaravalle and agreed with him to send a Cistercian monastic community to Sardinia, established in 1149 in the area of Cabu Abbas, rich in water sources. The name “de Corte” derives from the church of Santa Maria precisely from the memory of the royal foundation, which took place by the will of the Turritan judge.
Already in the 15th century, the monastery was in a state of abandonment and subsequently its construction materials and those of the church were completely stripped away, to erect various buildings in Sindia and even to pave the railway line, which passes not far from the ruins.
A series of excavations has highlighted the plan of the abbey and the monastic complex. The church was shaped like a “commissa” cross, with a transept overlooking the quadrangular apse and four chapels, two chapels on each side. Of the large building, made of well-squared dark vulcanite ashlars, today only the apse remains, the S part of the transept, on which two of the chapels next to the choir open, and a sacristy connecting with the monastery.
The S arm of the transept, following collapses, was closed to obtain an environment functional to the liturgy. The side chapels are covered in barrels and in the respective N-shaped sides (as well as in the apse) there are two niches, one of which acts as a cabinet for liturgical furniture and the other used as a washbasin. A single-light window opens in each chapel, while in line with the dividing pillar, a circular oculus opens with four lights. Another monophorous window opens in the O wall of the transept.

History of studies
The history of studies on the church of Santa Maria di Corte is rich in publications. The historical-artistic analysis proceeds with the contributions of Dionigi Scano (1907) and Raffaello Delogu (1948 and 1953). More recent studies by Angela Maria Romanini (1978) and Marina Righetti Tosti Croce (1987). Renata Serra's 1989 contribution, followed by the article by Alma Casula (1990). Finally, the brief record by Roberto Coroneo (1993) should be noted.

Bibliography
V. Angius, “Sassari”, in G. Casalis, Historical-Statistical-Commercial Geographical Dictionary of the States by H.M. the King of Sardinia, XVIII, Turin, G. Maspero, 1849, p. 325;
V. Angius, “Sindia”, in G. Casalis, Historical and Statistical Geographical Dictionary of the States of His Majesty the King of Sardinia, XX, Turin, G. Maspero, 1850, p. 181;
G. Spano, “Sindia, and Santa Maria di Corte, or Cabu Abbas”, in Bullettino Bullettino Sardinian Sardinian, X, 1864, pp. 43-47; R. Delogu,”
Cistercian Architectures of Sardinia”, in Studi Sardi, VIII, 1948, pp. 104-113;
R. Delogu, The Architecture of the Middle Ages in Sardinia, Rome, The State Library, 1953, pp. 137-140;
A.M. Romanini, “The abbeys founded by Saint Bernard in Italy and the “primitive” Cistercian architecture”, in Studies on Saint Bernard of Chiaravalle on the eighth centennial of his canonization, Rome, 1978, pp. 282-303; G. Masia, The Abbey of Cabuabbas by Sindia (1149) and its spiritual and social influence in the 12th and 13th centuries,
Sassari, Sassari Artisan Typography, 1982;
M. Righetti Tosti Croce, “Monastic Architecture: Buildings. Lines for an Architectural History”, in From the Hermitage to the Cenobio. Monastic civilization in Italy from its origins to the age of Dante, Milan, Scheiwiller, 1987, pp. 486-575;
R. Serra, Sardinia, series “Romanesque Italy”, Milan, Jaca Book, 1989, pp. 414-416;
A. Casula, “Testimonies of Cistercian Architecture in Northern Sardinia”, in The Cistercians in Sardinia. Aspects and problems of a Benedictine monastic Order in medieval Sardinia, edited by G. Spiga, Nuoro, Provincial Administration of Nuoro, 1990, pp. 224-226;
R. Coroneo, Romanesque Architecture from the Mid Thousand to the Early '300, Nuoro, Ilisso, 1993, sheet 56; R. Coroneo-R. Serra, Pre-Romanesque and Romanesque Sardinia, series “Italian Artistic Heritage”, Milan, Jaca Book, 2004, pp. 275-277; R. Coroneo, Romanesque Churches of Sardinia.
Tourist-cultural itineraries, Cagliari, AV, 2005, pp. 57-58.

How to get there
Sindia is 16 km from Bosa. The ruins of the church of Santa Maria di Corte are outside the town, along the SS 129 bis, halfway between Sindia and Macomer.