San Saturnino
San Saturnino is Isili’s parish church, located in the highest and oldest part of town, surrounded by a large square offering breathtaking views of the village, Lake San Sebastiano, and even the distant Gennargentu mountains. The church dates back to the 14th century, though restoration work in the 1990s uncovered traces of earlier construction phases. The church has a single nave with four chapels on each side. The main altar dates to 1780, while the marble pulpit was added in 1802. During restoration, the wooden roof was restored to its original form. Another historic feature is the enormous bell, measuring 3 meters in circumference and weighing 600 kg, which dates back to 1591 based on its inscriptions. Over the past two centuries, the church underwent significant modifications. Until the 1950s, it only had three chapels per side. Historically, the entrance was located on the opposite side, meaning the interior layout was reversed. Additionally, the clock tower beside the bell tower was added in 1830.
Visiting Hours:
Sunday: 08:00 – 12:00
Monday to Wednesday: 08:00 – 16:00
Thursday to Saturday: 08:00 – 19:00
First Friday of the Month: 08:00 – 16:00
San Giuseppe Calasanzio
The Church of San Giuseppe, located in the town center within its namesake square, was built by the Piarist Fathers between 1661 and 1737 alongside a convent that now houses the MARATE Museum. The Piarists’ contribution to Isili’s history is notable, as they founded the first school open to all, at a time when education was reserved for the wealthy elite. Grateful for their efforts, the town gifted the Piarists the land where the Nuraghe Is Paras stands, which subsequently took its name (is paras meaning “the friars” in Sardinian).
The church’s façade features two side loggias, a terracotta statue of St. Joseph above the portal, and a circular limestone relief symbolizing the Piarist Order. The structure is notable for its octagonal dome with a distinctive tiled covering. Inside, two side chapels house 18th-century wooden altars, while the main altar, positioned centrally, dates to 1873. After being closed for many years, the church was restored and reopened for worship in the late 1990s.
The feast of San Giuseppe is Isili’s most significant religious celebration, even though the town’s patron saint is San Saturnino. It takes place around August 25 with both religious and civic festivities.
Visiting Hours:
Daily: 07:00 – 18:00
Monday to Wednesday and the first Friday of the month: Until the conclusion of the Holy Mass.
Sant’Antonio a Fadali
This charming rural church dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua dates back to the 16th century. It is located in the Fadali area, about 8 km from the town center, at the foot of Pitzu Mannu at an altitude of approximately 600 meters. The church is built near a nuraghe amidst lush vegetation of holm oaks and turkey oaks. The area lies on the border between Isili and Villanova Tulo, to which it belonged until 1866. The transfer of jurisdiction sparked legal disputes and conflicts between the two communities.
Sant’Antonio a Fadali is situated on private land owned by the Mura family, who financed its restoration. Since 1999, the church has been reopened for worship and made accessible to the public.
