Photo Gallery Monte Sirai

Monte Sirai

Monte Sirai

Carbonia (CI)

Monte Sirai is a punic-roman settlement on the top of the mount Sirai near Carbonia. The site is strategically situated in the middle of the mining districts of the Sulcis and the Iglesiente. The archaeological site consists of the remains of the town and acropolis, a punic and a phoenician necropolis and a tophet. The view from the mountain top is breathtaking.

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The access to the acropolis of the punic settlement was fortified in the third century BC. The road passes the walls of the fortification and the gate. title=The access to the acropolis of the punic ...
To the left of the gates there are the remains of structures that are dated later than the acropolis of Monte Sirai, probably of roman times. In fact there is a large area called opera avanzata with housing structures outside the acropolis. title=To the left of the gates there are ...
A view to the right of the main gate with additional walls. title=A view to the right of the main ...
The entrance of the acropolis. In the foreground where the gate was placed. In the background the area in front of the acropolis where structures of houses have been excavated. title=The entrance of the acropolis. In the foreground ...
Another view of the access to the acropolis of Monte Sirai. The prevailing direction of the wind is evident in the way the trees grow on the hill top. title=Another view of the access to the acropolis ...
Immediately behind the gates is the highest point of the acropolis. At first here would have been built a central fortress, called mastio, on the foundations of a former nuraghe. To the right the thick walls of a tower, in the middle rooms called casermatte and to the left there is an underground cistern. title=Immediately behind the gates is the highest point ...
In a subsequent phase after the romans acquired Sardinia the area would have been transformed into a double temple structure. There are two entrances next to each other that give access to what seem to be two separate temples. title=In a subsequent phase after the romans acquired ...
The first temple on the right with the double sacellum. The double sacellum is a characteristic of punic temples but has been also found in the temple of Eshmun at Nora and the temple of Antas at Fluminimaggiore that were rebuilt in roman times title=The first temple on the right with the ...
The temple on the left has the exact same plan as that on the right, with a double sacellum. In the background you can see the industry of Porto Scuso title=The temple on the left has the exact ...
Detail of the sacella of the left temple structure. title=Detail of the sacella of the left temple ...
Next to the temples a structure has been identified as the basement of a tower, called mastio. title=Next to the temples a structure has been ...
The foundations of houses next to the gate. In the background Carbonia. title=The foundations of houses next to the gate. ...
Partly reconstructed foundations of a house at Monte Sirai. Usually the lower part was in stone and the rest in mudbrick. title=Partly reconstructed foundations of a house at Monte ...
A street of Monte Sirai. There were several parallel roads that finished in a square giving the settlement it's characteristic layout title=A street of Monte Sirai. There were several ...
The entrance of a house with the doorsill in place. The holes were used for the hinges or the posts. A little further the first two steps of a staircase that led to an upper floor. title=The entrance of a house with the doorsill ...
The casa del lucernario di Talco, the hypothesis is that the skylight in the house might have been covered by thin talc plates. In the middle a replica of a small oven. title=The casa del lucernario di Talco, the hypothesis ...
Detail of an ally with at the end the first steps of a staircase. title=Detail of an ally with at the end ...
The mistral plays strange jokes on trees, here the road is practically blocked. title=The mistral plays strange jokes on trees, here ...
Surviving the mistral on the hill of Monte Sirai title=Surviving the mistral on the hill of Monte ...
The lower part of Monte Sirai at the end of the parallel roads is a part that is still under excavation. title=The lower part of Monte Sirai at the ...
A panoramic view from Monte Sirai on the plains and coast below title=A panoramic view from Monte Sirai on the ...
The house of Fantar, this structure was excavated by the archaeologist Fantar. title=The house of Fantar, this structure was excavated ...
Part of the House of Fantar. Note the drain to the left of the entrance. title=Part of the House of Fantar. Note the ...
A weird feeling we're watched by Ents busy tending their garden title=A weird feeling we're watched by Ents busy ...
The punic gravechambers at Monte Sirai. Cut in the rock some of these chambers are large family graves. title=The punic gravechambers at Monte Sirai. Cut in ...
The entrance to one of the tombs. The wall around the pit is modern. title=The entrance to one of the tombs. The ...
Inside a punic gravechamber at Monte Sirai, usually on two or three sides there are beds like this. title=Inside a punic gravechamber at Monte Sirai, usually ...
In fron tof a punic grave, the dromos with the stairs. title=In fron tof a punic grave, the dromos ...
Internal of a punic gravechamber. The left side of the tomb title=Internal of a punic gravechamber. The left side ...
Internal of a punic gravechamber. The left side in the back of the tomb title=Internal of a punic gravechamber. The left side ...
Internal of a punic gravechamber. The right side of the tomb title=Internal of a punic gravechamber. The right side ...
Internal of a punic gravechamber. Just right of the entrance title=Internal of a punic gravechamber. Just right of ...
Internal of a punic gravechamber. In the floor of the chamber are these small holes. title=Internal of a punic gravechamber. In the floor ...
This is the most important punic gravechamber at Monte Sirai and only accessible with a guide. title=This is the most important punic gravechamber at ...
Inside the punic gravechamber. The niches contain samples of votive ceramics used in funerary rites. title=Inside the punic gravechamber. The niches contain samples ...
The left side of the grave chamber with the beds title=The left side of the grave chamber with ...
The chamber is divided by a pillar. This pillar has a particular sign, the sign of life (ankh) upside down. It is interpreted as a sign of life after death, of the underworld, and therefore carved upside down on the pillar. This is a unique feature not found elsewhere on Sardinia, and very rare in the punic world. title=The chamber is divided by a pillar. This ...
Detail of the pilar with the reversed symbol of life. title=Detail of the pilar with the reversed symbol ...
Apart from the punic gravechambers there is another necropolis with burials from phoenician and punic times. title=Apart from the punic gravechambers there is another ...
One of the graves of the necropolis at Monte Sirai title=One of the graves of the necropolis at ...
The third part of the archaeological site is the area of the tophet with a small temple structure. Here the remains of stairs leading up to the temple structure itself. The white wall is a modern containment wall. title=The third part of the archaeological site is ...
The structure of the small temple at the tofet of Monte Sirai. In the furthest corner, on the north side of the small temple, is the altar. title=The structure of the small temple at the ...
Close-up of the remains of the altar in the small temple structure. title=Close-up of the remains of the altar in ...
An impression of the tophet, replica's placed under a tree to show how the urns were placed. The original urns have been removed at the time of the excavation. title=An impression of the tophet, replica's placed under ...
A view of the acropolis of Monte Sirai from the open air sanctuary title=A view of the acropolis of Monte Sirai ...
Remains of the Phoenician-Punic site of Monte Sirai. The main street. title=Remains of the Phoenician-Punic site of Monte Sirai. ...
Near the town of Monte Sirai there are a series of Punic Tombs hewn out of the rock. Within are chambers for several burials. This chamber has the sign of Tanit cut out in the rock on one of the pillars. title=Near the town of Monte Sirai there are ...

Address: Strada Statale 126 Sulcitana - località Sirai

Tel: 0781 62665

Opening times: summer 10:00-20:00 (july and august every day, the other months closed on monday); winter 10:00-15:00 (monday and tuesday closed)

Prices: Euro 6,00 (reduced Euro 5,00 euro)

Website: www.meditinera.it

Guided tours available

The information has been updated for 2016 but prices and opening hours may vary.

Last updated 09/10/2014

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