Maracalagonis (CA)

Maracalagònis, which some investigations confirmed by archaeological finds would date back to ancient Tidora, founded in 19 by a group of Jews exiled by Tiberius, had a certain importance in the Byzantine era, as documented by the discovery of some finds now in the National Archaeological Museum of Cagliari .

The parish church of the Virgin of the Angels, originally dating back to 1225, preserves the Pisan side, with an arched portal, from that period, while the other structures of the building had in the century XV a Gothic-Aragonese transformation, of which the chapel of the Rosary will remain (1st left) With a star vault, that of S. Antonio (2nd left) and the one in front of the sacristy, both with jeweled cross vaults; in 1551, devastated by a fire, it was rebuilt with an octagonal dome and barrel vault.

Inside there are some interesting works: in the chapel of the Rosary, a polyptych by Berengario Poccalull (1423), retouched by Pietro Cavaro (1520).

In the sacristy, two crescent-shaped canvases represent the Condemnation and martyrdom of St. Stephen.

A short distance from the parish church is the church of the Madonna d’Itria, with three naves divided by squat columns that support round arches with original trussed ceilings; the primitive facade of the church, opposite to the current one (which can be seen coming out of a door next to the altar), has an arched portal and an order of arches, stylistically close to the right side of the parish church.