Chiesa di Santa Croce

In the historical centre of Usini, the Church of Santa Croce represents a remarkable example of Sardinian medieval architecture. The building reveals a complex evolution, with two main construction phases: one from the Byzantine period, characterised by a Greek cross plan and a single apse, and a later Romanesque phase (12th-13th century) that involved the lengthening of the nave and the addition of two small apses in the transepts, giving the church a Latin cross shape. The Romanesque façade shows Gothic influences, with a pointed arch portal and a bell gable. The interior has a barrel-vaulted nave and a rectangular tiburium with openings for lighting. Located in the vicinity of the extinct volcanoes of north-west Sardinia, the church of Santa Croce is a precious historical jewel that deserves to be visited and appreciated.