The church of Nostra Signora di Tergu, also known as Santa Maria, stands as a remarkable example of Romanesque architecture in Sardinia, bearing witness to the stylistic and cultural evolution of the island in the Middle Ages. Its history, rooted in the 12th century, offers a fascinating insight into the religious and architectural dynamics of the time.
The church's affiliation to the Benedictine monastic order, documented from 1122, underlines the importance of this order in the dissemination of architectural and cultural models in Sardinia. However, the precise date of the building's foundation remains shrouded in mystery, stimulating the interest of historians and inviting further archival and archaeological research.
Throughout its history, the church has undergone significant transformations. Reconstruction work in the 12th century probably gave the building much of its current Romanesque appearance. This period of architectural renovation coincided with a phase of great cultural and artistic ferment in Sardinia, influenced by stylistic currents from the Italian peninsula.
Another crucial moment in the church's history occurred in the 15th century, when it was incorporated into the Archiepiscopal Canteen of Torres.