Country churches in Sardinia
Saint Laurence of Rebeccu
Bonorva (Sassari)

Near Bonorva, at the turn-off for Rebeccu, there is the small Romanesque country church of St Laurence which, despite various alterations over the centuries, maintains the fascination of its simple, harmonious architecture.
The main facade, the apse and the north side, with two very pretty small windows, all date back to the last thirty years of CXIIth, while the domed bell-tower was probably added in CXVIIIth.
The roof and the lower part of the south side were rebuilt in 1982.


The doorway with architrave is surmounted by a round arch, as shown by the two-tone effect of the stones, which suit the cuspid facade with cross-shaped light. This latter is decorated by a series of arches all around the perimeter, even on the north side.

In the apse the stones are enriched with two engravings: a flower, above the monophore and a Solomonic knot, very rare in the Romanesque architecture of Sardinia .



Photos: Ketty Grasso©2002

The apse, with a trussed roof a la Pisan-Pomanic, arouses particular interest because in the outer part it is decorated by four pilaster strips with capitals surmounted by arches.

The church, built from meticulously squared light-coloured limestone quoins and alternated with blackish basalt pilaster strips is made up of a single nave and measures 4.90 x 11.70m, plus overhang of 1.20m.
In 1831 a seal was found inside the church, part of its act of donation. It belonged to Barisone II de Lacon Gunale, who ruled the Judicial territory of Torres until the end of 1186; it was the seat of the magistrate of the area.
It is said, though not proved, that the church was built on an old nuraghe, as inside the ruins of a village from this period have been found.
The feast is celebrated 10th August.