Basilica of San Simplicio

Located right in the center of the bustling city of Olbia, which boasts a history dating back thousands of years, the Basilica of San Simplicio is a Romanesque church from the 1200s: it strikes for the beauty hidden behind its austere-looking facade. 

It was built of granite on the remains of a Carthaginian cemetery, using the structure of an early Christian church. One of its secrets is found on the facade where there is a tile with an illustration of unknown origin. There is depicted a knight with a broadsword fighting with an angel, symbolizing the clash between human ambitions and the peace of eternity.

The best time to visit the basilica is in May where the Feast of St. Simplicio is organized in pleasant weather: in the procession the statue of the saint is carried around the city. A must-see!    

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