The Nuraghe of Is Paras rises on a hill in Isili, in Sardinia’s Sarcidano region. Built around the 15th century BC, this complex Nuragic monument has a central tower and three outer towers. Its main chamber is topped by a remarkable tholos vault, reaching 11.8 metres high. You can get close to the stonework and look inside, where a circular well sits at the centre of the chamber. A local guide can help explain the site’s structure and history.
A trilobed Nuragic monument
The Nuraghe of Is Paras stands in Isili, in the historic Sarcidano region of Sardinia. Its name means “the friars” in Sardinian. The monument occupies a hilltop position overlooking the surrounding territory to the west.
The structure is trilobed: a triangular bastion joins three towers at its corners. The central tower was originally a single circular structure, built from regularly cut blocks of white limestone. The complex form and surviving stonework make Is Paras a notable example of Nuragic architecture.
Inside the central chamber
The entrance is raised above ground level and leads along a corridor into the main chamber. At its centre is a circular well. Above it, the chamber’s tholos, or domed stone vault, reaches about 11.8 metres high. This is described as the tallest tholos in Nuragic Sardinia.
Excavations and restoration work have revealed further details of the monument, including parts of the tower and the southern wall. A guided visit can help put the structure into context and explain what is visible on site.
Perguntas frequentes
Where is the Nuraghe of Is Paras?
It is in Isili, in Sardinia’s Sarcidano region. The address is Via Grazia Deledda, along the SS 128 Centrale Sarda.
How old is the Nuraghe of Is Paras?
The site dates to around the 15th century BC, during the Bronze Age.
What is notable about the central chamber?
Its tholos vault reaches about 11.8 metres high, described as the tallest in Nuragic Sardinia. A circular well sits at the centre of the chamber.
Is the site open on Mondays?
No. The site is listed as closed on Mondays and open in the afternoon from Tuesday to Sunday.
