Chiesa di Sant’Anna

A rare example of Catalan Gothic architecture in Sardinia, preserving art and popular devotion

In the heart of Siliqua, the Church of Sant’Anna (Saint Anne) preserves a history rooted in the Aragonese period.

This small sacred building is a valuable testimony to Catalan cultural influence on the island, when local craftsmen learned and adopted the building techniques brought by artisans from the Iberian Peninsula. According to oral tradition, Sant’Anna was the first church in Siliqua to be granted parish status, a distinction that underlines its importance in the religious life of the community.

The Aragonese origins

The exact date of its foundation is unknown, but a document from 1481 records reconstruction works, suggesting that an earlier church was already in ruins. The building we see today is therefore the result of that late 15th-century reconstruction, designed entirely according to the Catalan Gothic model. The structure has lived through centuries that were not always easy. The bases of the internal arches, not perfectly parallel, tell the story of a building that came close to collapse more than once, yet has endured to the present day.

L’architettura gotico-catalana

The church, built entirely of stone, has a single nave with a Latin cross plan. Two side chapels open near the presbytery and are covered with barrel vaults. The structure is marked by pointed diaphragm arches supporting the wooden roof covered with tiles. On one beam, the inscription “1765 Anton Armas” can still be read. The façade preserves the characteristic flat, crenellated profile, with a small oculus above the entrance portal. Two entrances lead inside: the main one on the façade and a secondary one on Via Garibaldi. A bell gable completes the outline of the building.

A heritage of sacred art

The interior preserves a rich artistic heritage. The wooden high altar, created by the sculptor Antioco Diana, dates back to 1765 and is decorated with gilded floral motifs on a black and dark green background. In the central niche stands the statue of Sant’Anna with the Virgin Mary as a child, flanked by San Giacomo Apostolo (Saint James the Apostle) and Sant’Isidoro agricoltore (Saint Isidore the Farmer).

The side chapels contain numerous devotional statues, mostly made of wood and dressed in fabric garments, bearing witness to Siliqua’s popular devotion. On the arch above the presbytery, a coat of arms depicts a hand holding ears of wheat.

Visitor information

Opening hours: To arrange a visit, please contact the Municipality of Siliqua.