Chiesa di San Platano
Chiesa di San Platano
The Church of San Platano in Villaspeciosa, whose construction presumably dates back to the 12th century, represents a fascinating example of the reuse of ancient materials in medieval architecture. Much of the building material used may have come from the remains of a pre-existing church located on the nearby Roman-Byzantine site of San Cromazio, highlighting a common practice of recovering and reusing architectural elements. The structure is distinguished by its unusual plan with two apsidal naves, enriched by the use of reused Roman columns and capitals, a feature that makes it unique in the panorama of Sardinian Romanesque architecture. The façade, divided into three parts, features decorative elements of considerable interest: the side portals are embellished with inlaid crosses, while the central portal features a reused marble slab, finely decorated with an interlaced frame and four-petalled floral motifs. This combination of architectural and decorative elements from different periods gives the church an eclectic character of great historical and artistic value.