S'ORTALI AND SU MONTI
“A few hundred meters from the splendid Orrì beach, on the eastern coast of Sardinia, stands the archaeological area of S'Ortali and Su Monti located at the top of two contiguous hills. The archaeological complex includes monuments dating back to different eras which testify to the continuity of use of the area over a large period of time, therefore constituting a small compendium of Sardinian prehistory, flagship of the lively town of Tortolì. Inside the site it is in fact possible to visit a domus de janas and two menhirs dating back to the Recent Neolithic (3500-2700 a.C.), a megalithic circle dating back to the Copper Age (2500 a.C.), a complex nuraghe with an adjoining village and an imposing giants' tomb dating back to the Middle Bronze Age (1500 a. C.).
Between these, the monument that most characterizes the archaeological complex, it is indeed the nuraghe: an imposing tower with an external diameter of approx 15 m and a residual height greater than i 5 m, it stands in the center of a courtyard enclosed by an elliptical shaped wall, which includes in its irregular development three other towers still full of collapsed material.
The dimensions of the central tower and its internal niches, the thickness of the walls and the majesty of the helical staircase along the access corridor to the tower, they are highly indicative signs of a large-scale architectural work. To date, few circular huts have been investigated in the village attached to this majestic nuraghe, but just look around to understand the real extent of the settlement, of which visible traces are preserved along the southern slopes, North and East of the hill that houses the nuraghe; On the northern side, a structure of notable importance was also brought to light: a real granary made up of about ten silos.
Thanks to the variety of its monuments, the archaeological complex of S'Ortali e su Monti is one of the most complete sites in Sardinia, where the visitor has the opportunity to learn about the most important stages of Sardinian prehistory in a single journey.”