The church of Santa Maria Maddalena in Chiaramonti stands as a remarkable example of medieval architecture, characterised by a distinctive bichromatic construction technique that gives the building a unique and evocative appearance. Its walls are not just structural elements, but true historical palimpsests, enriched by a variety of graffiti and lapidary signs bearing witness to centuries of devotion and popular culture.
Among these decorative elements, the so-called 'pilgrim's footprints', engravings that evoke the passage of ancient travellers and devotees, stand out for their frequency and symbolic significance. Of particular ethnographic interest is the depiction of a Sardinian dance scene, which offers a unique insight into the island's folkloric traditions. But perhaps the most extraordinary element is the very rare medieval labyrinth engraved on the exterior of the apsidal area, a motif of great iconographic and spiritual value that deserves further in-depth study.
The architectural evolution of the church reflects the social and religious changes in the area over the centuries. Originally built in the 13th century as a single-nave basilica with a barrel vault and apse facing south-east, the structure underwent significant changes over time. A major enlargement took place in 1323 with the addition of two side chapels, which transformed the original plan, giving it a "commissa" cross shape, an architectural typology charged with Christological symbolism.