Nuraghe Paddaggiu

Nuraghe Paddaggiu is a prehistoric stone complex beside the SP90 near Castelsardo, Sardinia. Its surviving central tower has a distinctive tholos roof, built from stone rings that narrow toward the top, and an internal staircase. The site stands on a hill with views over the surrounding countryside. It is on private property, and access can be blocked by fencing, so plan to view it from the road if you cannot enter. The Domus de Janas dell’Elefante is a short drive away.

The surviving tower

Nuraghe Paddaggiu lies along the SP90 near Castelsardo. The complex was built by the Nuragic civilization, which flourished from the Bronze Age through the Roman era. Its position on a hill gave it views across the surrounding area, a setting associated with Nuragic structures.

The central tower is the most intact part of the site. Its tholos, or false dome, was formed by placing successive rings of stone so that each course narrows toward the top. The tower measures about 11 metres across at its base and stands around 8.5 metres high today. Two levels inside were linked by a winding staircase.

The entrance and lost parts of the complex

The entrance corridor has a roof made from transverse stone slabs. A niche on the left side contains the staircase that rises toward the top of the tower. These details give a closer sense of how the structure was built and arranged.

The complex once included two lateral towers, a bastion and an outer wall enclosing a small settlement of stone huts with thatched roofs. Today, the main tower survives, along with a 27-metre section of wall and the base of one hut. The wooden balcony that once crowned the tower is gone. Because the site is on private property and fences may prevent entry, the remains are not always accessible up close; the tower can still be viewed from the roadside.