If ever the Flintstones were real, it seems they were natives of Sardinia.

– Philip Coppens

Sardinia has over 7,000 ancient stone structures (nuraghe) from its Celtic past, mostly constructed between 2300-500 BC, which could have been fortifications, palaces, temples or lodgings. This is quite a lot for an island of that size, and reflects an overall high level of preservation. The nuraghic civilization drew to a close with the arrival of the Phoenicians around 500 BC.

Many of the nuraghe are circular towers, whereas the Albicciu nuraghe is rectangular. The building is well preserved and after coming into a small hall you can head up to the rooftop. The construction simply laid dry fitted stones against the other.

You have a good view of the mountains to the north through an olive grove. There are signs of  additional construction – including a wooden structure as well as a tower.

The rear of the nuraghe shows multiple rooftop levels where additional, probably wooden structures may have stood.

Nearby is the Coddu Vecchiu burial structure, one of the larger burial monuments on the island, believed to be constructed around 1800-1600 BC and excavated in the 1960s.

The burial chamber sits behind the stele which contains a small entrance.

Together with the nearby La Prisgiona nuraghe, this area was quite heavily built up for the time. Arzachena is a good base for this as well as for exploring Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda.

I stayed at the Santa Lucia B&B in Arzachena which had great rooms and breakfast. http://www.bbslucia.it

Of the other 200 or so excavated nuraghe, others worth seeing in Sardina include major complexes located at Barumini, Torralba and La Prisgiona, also near Arzachena.