Nulvi

Geography and Demographics: Nulvi (Sardinian: Nuivi, elevation: 478 meters above sea level, population: 2,634 as of December 31, 2021) is an ancient agropastoral center located in the northwestern interior of Sardinia on the Anglona plateau, at the foot of Mount San Lorenzo. It served historically as the capital of the historical region of Anglona.
Origin of the Name: Attested since 1341, the local pronunciation is Nùivvi, and its etymology remains unclear, likely of protosardinian origin.
Economy: The local economy is based on agriculture (cereals, wheat, vegetables, fodder, vines, olives, fruit), livestock farming, dairy production, and energy/construction industries. Tourism is also significant, aided by archaeological sites and the historic Trenino Verde railway connection.

Prehistory to Roman Era: Inhabited since prehistoric times with nearly a hundred nuragic sites in its territory, Nulvi later served as a Roman castrum.
Judical and Feudal Eras: During the medieval period, it became part of the Curatoria of Anglona within the Giudicato of Logudoro. Following periods under the Malaspina, Doria, and Arbonese houses, it fell under Aragonese and Spanish rule, later becoming the center of the Principality of Anglona under the Pimentel family until feudal rights were abolished in 1838. In 1883, Nulvi hosted Sardinia’s first Higher School of Agriculture.

Holy Week: Elaborate rites organized by the Confraternity of the Holy Cross (Santa Croce), featuring Sas Chircas Mudas and S’Iscravamentu.
Pentecost Sunday: Feast of the Holy Spirit at the rural church of the same name.
June 24: Feast of Saint John the Baptist.
July 2: Feast of the Madonna of the Remedy.
August 14–15: Feast of the Assumption (Santa Maria Assunta), preceded on August 14 by the spectacular Procession of the Candelieri (Essida de Sos Candhaleris), where massive guild tabernacle structures representing farmers (Sos Messaios), artisans (Sos Mastros), and shepherds (Sos Pastores) are paraded.
September (Second Sunday): Feast of Our Lady of Monte Alma.

Town Hall: Located at Corso Vittorio Emanuele 60.
Church of San Sebastiano and San Bonaventura Monastery: Built in the late 16th century by Franciscan friars, formerly housing one of Sardinia’s most important theology schools.
Church of San Giovanni Battista: Founded around 1100, featuring a white tuff facade and single nave.
Parish Church of the Virgin Assunta (formerly Santa Maria del Fiore): Built in the 14th century, elevated to a collegiate church in 1780, featuring a baroque facade, an octagonal bell tower, three naves, and works by Giuseppe Maria Sartorio.
Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art: Housed in the sacristy and old Zimidoriu of the Assumption church, displaying precious liturgical vestments and sacred artifacts.
Church of Nostra Signora del Rosario: Dating to 1630, noted for its Altare de Sos Paladinos.
Rosa Fountain: An historic public fountain and washing basin serving as a traditional social hub.
Oratories of San Filippo Neri and Santa Croce: Historic confraternity headquarters preserving traditional wooden statues and ritual processional floats.
Church of Santa Tecla dei Miracoli: Founded by Antonian monks and later run by Benedictines and Franciscans, featuring a precious 1604 altarpiece (The Martyrdom of Saint Tecla) by Baccio Gorini and a rare Holy Door (Porta Santa).
Nulvi Railway Station: The passenger terminal for standard and tourist trains along the Sassari-Palau line.

Church of the Holy Spirit: Located in the Colondras locality, a restored pre-17th-century rural church.
Country Sanctuary of Our Lady of Monte Alma: An 18th-century sanctuary built over an ancient temple dedicated to Isis, offering panoramic views of the Anglona hills.
Alvu Nuraghe: An impressive, four-lobed complex nuraghe built entirely from unusual white trachyte and white tufa blocks, giving it its name (alvu means white).
Orcu Nuraghe: A well-preserved single-tower nuraghe that yielded an unusual bronze figurine depicting a man riding an ox.
Irru Sacred Well (Tempio sacro a pozzo Irru): A meticulously built isodoric well temple made of perfectly squared white limestone blocks dedicated to water worship, paired with an adjacent nuragic village.

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