|
|
|
|
Skip navigation and go to contents
The city Neapolis is situated in the southern part of the Golfo di Oristano, on the banks of the Marceddì lagoon. It was erected by the Phoenicians of Cartagina at the end of the V century B.C and soon became an important centre. Evidence of previous habitations can be traced back to what seems to be a Nuragic settlement and its commercial activities.
Rome that managed the city from 238 B.C. left clear traces: spas, cisterns, paved streets and several other findings that emerged during a series of diggings in the archaeological area.
Along the road that from Guspini leads to Sant'Antonio di Santadi it is possible to see the remains of “le Grandi Terme” (The Great Spas), in medieval times transformed into the small church dedicated to Santa Maria of Nabui; on the left the remains of the aqueduct, that channelled water from the mountains located behind to the city, can be seen. To the North, sections of paved roads and the remains of several cement cisterns can be observed. Heading towards the lagoon one encounters “le Piccole Terme” (the Small Spas) against which remains of walls belonging to an inhabited area lean and not far away, on the edge of the high ground on which the city was built, some sections of the town’s walls emerge, it is from here that the road for Uselis and Othoca passing through the Marceddì lagoon left.
The nearby port, situated in the area of the San Giovanni and Santa Maria lagoons, favoured commercial traffic and guaranteed safe berthing for sailors experienced in lagoon navigation, the lakes were also an irreplaceable defence system.
The centre was abandoned around the VII and VIII centuries A.C due to the dangers associated to living along the coast and the fact that it was impossible to organise a garrison.
