Nuraghe Palmavera

Nuraghe Palmavera is a Bronze Age archaeological site on SS127bis near Alghero, where you can walk among the remains of a Nuragic village. Its central nuraghe has an ancient main tower, a later bastion with a secondary tower, a courtyard, corridors and a surrounding wall. Stone staircases lead into parts of the structure, giving you a closer look than a visit from outside alone. Explanatory panels and an optional audio guide add context, and an on-site snack bar is there for refreshments after exploring.

The towers and their layout

The central complex developed in more than one phase. Its oldest part is the main tower, enclosed by a surrounding wall. A later building, the bastion, incorporated a second tower and a courtyard. Corridors with niches connect parts of the structure, and the remains show how the different sections were arranged around the older tower.

Stone staircases once provided access to the upper floor. They were set in the main tower, on both sides of the courtyard and in a corridor near the east entrance. Walking through the surviving spaces gives you a sense of the structure from within, including the tower’s interior and the remains of circular buildings around it.

A third tower in the archaeological record

Excavations uncovered traces of a third tower, known as Tower C. It had collapsed or been dismantled in ancient times, possibly after a structural failure. The site therefore preserves evidence of a complex that changed over time, not just a single tower standing on its own.

Nuraghe Palmavera belongs to the Nuragic civilization, whose people lived in Sardinia for several centuries. The site dates back more than 3,000 years. Explanatory panels introduce its history, while an optional audio guide provides further detail as you move through the remains.