Sant’Antonio di Briave

Between two mountains, Monte Mannu and Su Montigheddu, lies the church of Sant'Antonio Abate, until the 19th century known as Sant'Antonio de su crastu ruttu (of the fallen rock). Locally known as Bore, it is on the site of a Roman necropolis that has yielded numerous archaeological finds. The region retains the toponym Briai, referring to the villa Briave depopulated by the end of the 16th century.

Since Sardinia was a land with an essentially agro-pastoral economy, the cult of the monk saint, the traditional patron saint of workers in the countryside, was widespread. It is therefore not surprising that after the abandonment of Briave, the little church of the saint was kept active. It is also likely that it was the villagers themselves who involved the inhabitants of the surrounding areas in the annual feast of St Anthony.

The architectural structure suggests a proposed chronology of the second half of the 12th century based on the cut of the lunetted portal.