Carcere Spagnolo “Sa Bovida” is a former prison in Aritzo, in Sardinia’s Nuoro province. The seventeenth-century building was used as a royal prison until the 1940s. Its name comes from the pointed arch passageway, and inside, restored rooms show former surveillance areas and men’s and women’s cells. Look for the sundial in the courtyard, too. The visit also gives you a chance to learn about local history through exhibitions on Sardinian witchcraft and ethnography; a guide can add stories about life in Aritzo in earlier centuries.
A royal prison in Aritzo
Sa Bovida is a seventeenth-century building in Aritzo, in Sardinia’s Nuoro province. It served as a royal prison until the 1940s. In 1793, French officers captured during an attempted landing by Napoleon were held there.
The building’s past is visible in the rooms that once served the prison. Four restored spaces include a surveillance area and cells for men and women. One room has no opening in its walls; a door was added so it could be used.
Stone, mud and chestnut wood
The structure was built with schist stone, mud and chestnut wood. Its distinctive pointed arch passageway is called “sa bovida,” meaning “the vault.” The name refers to the arched feature, which has Spanish origins.
A sundial stands in the inner courtyard. It is a small detail to look for as you move between the rooms and consider how the building’s design differs from its former use as a place of confinement.
Stories and local exhibitions
A guide can put the building’s history in the context of life in Aritzo and the surrounding area in earlier centuries. The site is also connected with exhibitions on Sardinian witchcraft and ethnography, adding subjects beyond the prison itself.
Sa Bovida can be visited alongside other Aritzo attractions, including Casa De Villa, a pictorial exhibition and an ethnographic museum. If you plan to see several sites, check whether a cumulative ticket suits your itinerary. Tickets in advance are recommended. The site has a wheelchair-accessible entrance and parking.
FAQ
Where is Carcere Spagnolo Sa Bovida?
It is on Via Carceri in Aritzo, in Sardinia’s Nuoro province.
How old is Sa Bovida?
The building dates to the seventeenth century. It was used as a royal prison until the 1940s.
What can you see inside?
The restored rooms include a former surveillance area and men’s and women’s cells. There is also a courtyard sundial and a pointed arch passageway called “sa bovida.”
Can you buy a ticket for other Aritzo attractions as well?
A cumulative ticket is available for multiple attractions, including Casa De Villa, a pictorial exhibition and an ethnographic museum. Tickets in advance are recommended.
