The Siliqua community is one of the largest in Sardinia and is located in a central position on the productive plains of the Cixerri river. It's an area of great environmental interest, including the very well known wood-lands of
Monte Arcosu, WWF's natural reserve and numerous natural spring-waters like the famous Zinnigas, better known as S.Giorgio.
The territory is for the most part hilly and mountainous and boasts all of the Mediterranean underbrush and fauna species.
An important example of this naturalistic patrimony is the lava Domo of Acquafredda. It is a tertiary volcanic formation made by the quick cooling and consolidation of the lava and its 20 hectares surface is quite visible.
Nevertheless, the fame of Siliqua comes from its history. Its most representative monument is the Castle of Acquafredda dating back to the Middle Ages. Located on the homonymous volcanic top, quite close to the town, the castle has a Romanesque style and was built by the Pisans in the XII Century in order to defend the mining area. Between 1282 and the second half of the XIII Century, the castle was Count Ugolino of Donoratico's residence (Gherardesca family), who is quoted by Dante in a famous episode of the Divina Commedia. Today, only some of the original castle building ruins remains, like its U-shaped main structure. Most of the walls are also visible as well as the typical "guelfo" merlons must also be mentioned.
Four interventions have been made in order to protect the ruins. The squared shaped tower-tank, very important for the rainwater's filtering system, was also involved in the restoration.
On the castle's north wall are four bearings, one representing the Gherardesca family symbol; the golden eagle, the second is traversed by a diagonal band and the other two have both unfortunately been chiselled off.
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