This small town in the Marmilla region, famous for the archaeological site of Su Nuraxi, is just about a 20-minute drive from Isili. Starting from Isili, there are two routes to reach it: you can go through Gergei and continue along the SP 9, a secondary road that winds through the countryside, or take the SS 128 toward Nurallao, continue to Nuragus, pass through Gesturi, and finally arrive at Barumini.
The Barumini Nuraghe, Su Nuraxi, is also known as the Nuragic Royal Palace, as it is one of the largest nuragic complexes in existence. Excavations between 1950 and 1957 revealed its grandeur under the direction of Giovanni Lilliu, one of Sardinia’s greatest archaeologists and a native of Barumini. This discovery, along with the site’s recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has brought fame to Su Nuraxi, making it one of the most visited landmarks on the island. The nuraghe’s complex structure was built over various historical phases, the earliest dating back to the 15th century BCE when the central tower was constructed. In subsequent centuries, four peripheral towers were added, aligned with the cardinal points, around which a thriving village of circular stone huts developed. The complex continued to be used even after the fall of the Nuragic civilization, during the Punic period and later under Roman rule, and there are traces of frequentation up to the early medieval period.
Another very fascinating site is located in the center of Barumini, right next to the Beata Vergine Immacolata parish church: this is Casa Zapata. This residence was built in the 16th century by the Zapata family, nobles of Aragonese descent, atop a nuragic complex. Today, it has been converted into a museum complex with three sections: archaeological, historical-archival, and ethnographic. What makes this site unique is that during the restoration work to transform the residence into a museum, a nuraghe was discovered beneath it. It was preserved and made accessible: visitors can now view it through a system of glass floors and suspended walkways inside the building. The nuraghe beneath Casa Zapata dates to 1300 BCE and is trilobate, meaning it has three towers in addition to the central tower. Currently, only the central tower and one of the side towers are visible, as the rest of the structure and the associated village extend beyond the confines of Casa Zapata.
Another key site in Barumini is the Giovanni Lilliu Center, a modern building that hosts both permanent and temporary exhibitions. The center offers numerous amenities, including an information hub, café, bookstore, conference hall, and outdoor event spaces. Among its permanent exhibitions is one dedicated to Giovanni Lilliu and the archaeological excavations at Su Nuraxi. The center also features a reproduction of Su Nuraxi as it appeared at the height of its splendor. Additionally, the Giovanni Lilliu Center includes a marketplace showcasing Sardinian artistic craftsmanship.
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