BONO

Bono is considered the most important town in the Goceano region, located in central-northern Sardinia. Although it is considered a predominantly hilly area, the significant elevation range, with a difference of over 1,000 meters, gives the Bono territory a highly varied naturalistic and landscape characteristics.

The highest point is reached in the “Mount Rasu” mountain range, specifically at the peak known as “Sa Punta Manna”, which reaches 1,258 meters. This contrasts with the lower altitude of approximately 220 meters above sea level reached in the areas crossed by the Tirso River.

The territory of Bono has a roughly rectangular shape, extending transversally from northwest to southeast and bordering no fewer than eight municipalities, some of which share large portions of land, while others share only small strips of land.

The northernmost border is briefly with the municipality of Nughedu San Nicolò, while from the northeast to the southeast is the long border with the territory of Anela, marked for a large part by the river”Riu Mannu,” which flows at altitudes around 400 meters. This river then assigns several mountain ranges the role of a natural border between Bono and Anela, of which “Punta Masiedda,” at 1,158 meters above sea level, is the highest peak between the two municipalities.

Near the Tirso River, which also flows between these two municipalities, Bono first borders the territory of Bultei for a short stretch, and then Benetutti up to its southeast boundary. At this very point lies a very short stretch of Bono’s border with Oniferi, in the province of Nuoro. It’s no coincidence that this town, in the Oniferi area, is called “Sas tres lacanas” (which in Sardinian means “the three borders,” Bono-Benetutti-Oniferi).

The entire southern side of the Bono area borders Orotelli, also part of the province of Nuoro.

The southern part of the Bono area is characterized by wide plains and valleys through which numerous streams flow, many of which are tributaries of the most important river in the entire area, the Tirso.

Almost the entire border from the southwest point to the northwest of the Bono area is shared with the municipality of Bottidda, while the last town sharing the border with Bono is Bonorva in the northwest portion of the territory.

The northwest area is characterized by a plateau so vast that it even gave the entire area its name, “Pranu Mannu.” Another important waterway, the “Riu Mannu,” flows south of this plateau. From here, the altitude begins to rise, giving the landscape mountainous characteristics dominated by numerous forests.

One of the best-known and most important is the “Mount Pisanu State Forest,” which extends over 2,200 hectares, nearly 1,700 of which fall within the territory of Bono, while the rest are within the territory of Bottidda. Its importance from a naturalistic and landscape perspective is due to the variety of flora and fauna present, where stands of various types of oak, such as cork oak, downy oak, and holm oak, alternate with coniferous tree species, maples, and yews, along with numerous species of Mediterranean scrub.

A special feature within the State Forest is the natural monument known as “Sos Nibberos,” named after the Sardinian yew species, scientifically known as Taxus Baccata. This monument covers an area of ​​approximately six hectares, where centuries-old and thousand-year-old trees of this species cover almost the entire territory, reaching heights of over 10 meters, making it the largest yew forest in all of Italy.

Seen from above, the village of Bono has the shape of a hexagon. The western side is densely populated and includes the historic centre, while the houses on the eastern side have a more regular layout, with more green spaces between the buildings. The town of Bono is crossed by the state road 128 bis, which connects it to the north with the village of Anela and to the south with the village of Bottidda. From here, several provincial roads branch off, leading to various towns in the Tirso Valley.

Bono appears to have more than one original historic centre: one centred around the Church of San Giovanni Battista, one centred around the Church of Santa Caterina to the south, and one centred around the Church of Sant’Efisio to the north. These villages, once distant from each other, through their mutual expansion, contributed to shaping the town as we see it today.

Bono boasts numerous squares and green spaces, popular gathering places for the locals. From San Giovanni square, several paths branch off, leading to every corner of the town. Not far from this square, on San Raimondo Hill, is the church dedicated to the same saint, with a panoramic terrace in front offering views of a vast portion of the town and surrounding countryside.

Gardens, fountains, statues, and murals contribute to the beautification of Bono, which offers all the services the community requires, including schools of various levels, banks, a post office, police headquarters, and even a hospital with its own clinics.

The first written mention of the toponym was in a 1388 document in which “Boon” was listed among the other villages that were to choose the delegate to represent Cagliari on the occasion of the peace declaration between Eleanor of Arborea and the Aragonese. However, mentions of the toponyms “Bon” and “Bonon” are also found.

Regarding its etymology, there are at least two theories: the first derives from the Latin “Bonu,” “Bonus,” likely referring to the positive characteristics of its lands; the second instead derives from the word “Gonn,” meaning “mountain,” or “hill,” which, like other toponyms, underwent a spelling change over time, with the “G” being replaced by a “B.”

The economy of Bono is strongly based on pastoralism, combining beef and dairy cattle farming with agriculture. Viticulture plays a significant role, and the white wine “Arvesiniadu” is perhaps the most characteristic of this town, a grape variety of ancient origins, brought back to light to commemorate the local winemaking past.

The building and construction sector is highly developed, but the artisanal sector also plays a significant role, with several workshops specializing in ironwork, woodworking, breadmaking, yarn, and textile production. There are few towns where you can still find a tailor capable of sewing and embroidering the traditional local costume from scratch, and Bono boasts one.

The service sector in Bono is quite developed, giving it a prominent and central role, to which all other surrounding towns turn.

Finally, as far as tourist accommodation is concerned, Bono offers various options for both catering and overnight accommodation.

The parish church of Bono is dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel and is located approximately equidistant between the church of Saint John the Baptist, just to the north, and the church of Saint Catherine, just to the south. These were the ancient places of worship in the town’s original historic centres. The current building, in Gothic-Renaissance style, was built towards the end of the 16th century, although its pink trachyte façade dates back two centuries, suggesting that a pre-existing place of worship was already being used for religious functions. The gabled façade, constructed of exposed trachyte ashlars, is divided into three sections. The lower portion features a decorated bronze door, framed by two columns and an architrave, above which is a small tympanum. A thin cornice and small arches mark the division with the upper part of the façade, which features a huge rose window at its centre, serving both decorative purposes and as a light source for the sanctuary. The top of the façade has the characteristics of a gabled roof, with gables extending across the entire width. The square-shaped bell tower is located behind it on the right side. Inside, the church has a single nave divided by arches into four bays that open laterally into chapels to the right and left.

South of the parish church is the church of Santa Caterina. The current building is the result of a 19th-century reconstruction of a pre-existing sanctuary that certainly existed in the first half of the 16th century, as several written records confirm its presence. It cannot be said with certainty, but the very first church dedicated to Santa Caterina likely predates this, given that one of the three historic centres of the village of Bono developed in this district around the 14th century. The building is modest in size, with a stylistically simple gabled façade topped by a bell gable. A few steps lead to a square doorway that opens into the interior, consisting of a single nave divided by two arches.

Slightly north of the parish church of Bono stands the church dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. Like the church of Saint Catherine, this church is thought to have been originally built around the 14th century, as this district was also one of the town’s first historic centres. It certainly existed in the 16th century, as can be confirmed by several written records, while the current building dates back to the first half of the 19th century. The structure has a rectangular plan with a stylistically simple gabled façade and a bell gable at the top. The square doorway opens into the interior, consisting of a single nave divided by four arches.

The third and final church that must have belonged to one of the original historic centres of Bono is that of Saint Efisio. There are no reliable sources certifying its origins, but the only document mentioning this church dates to the mid-18th century. The current structure dates back to the 19th century, has a rectangular plan, and is stylistically very simple, like the two previous churches. It also features a gabled façade with a bell gable at the top and an arched doorway. Inside, the single nave is divided by two arches.

A short distance from the parish church to the southeast stands the Church of Sant’Antonio Abate. There is no certain information regarding the date of the sanctuary’s initial construction, but the first written reference to it dates to the mid-18th century. The structure we see today is the result of a 19th-century renovation and consists of a rectangular plan with a gabled façade topped by a bell gable, a square doorway, and a slightly higher arch. Inside, two arches support the gabled roof and divide the single nave into two sections.

On the eastern outskirts of the village of Bono stands the Church of Nostra Signora di Bonaria. It is a very recent building, dating back to 2001, dedicated to the patron saint of Sardinia. Its layout is that of a quadrant of a circle, accessed through an arched gate. The interior also reflects modernity, with rounded shapes and numerous stained-glass windows.

The last of the churches within the town of Bono is the one dedicated to San Raimondo, also known as the Church of Saint Raymond Nonnatus. Nonnatus means “unborn,” meaning not born from the mother, but rather extracted from her body, having died shortly before giving birth. The exact date of the church’s first construction is unknown, but we know that it already existed in the early 18th century and was dedicated to the Virgin of the Assumption. In the late 1730s, it was decided to rebuild the church, which was in terrible structural condition, and dedicate it to Our Lady of Mercy, entrusting it to the friars of this order who had settled in Bono at the time. About a decade later, the church changed its name again and was dedicated to Our Lady of Remedy, but this title also did not last long and was changed again in the mid-1760s when the sanctuary was dedicated to Saint Raymond, as we know it today. A wide staircase leads to the rectangular church with a stylistically simple gabled façade topped by an iron cross. The architraved door is framed by slender columns and topped by a rose window, while the bell gable is located on the right side. The interior consists of a single nave divided by arches into three bays. The presbytery houses the statue of Saint Raymond in the centre and those of Saint Lucy and Saint Francis at its sides.

In addition to the churches in the town centre, Bono also boasts five rural churches, “Sas Cresias de Su Campu,” all built close together about 7 km southeast of the town, in what was once the village of Lorzia. Originally, there were six rural churches, but today virtually nothing remains of the Church of Santa Croce.

The oldest of these churches is dedicated to Saints Gavino, Proto, and Gianuario, Christian saints martyred in Porto Torres in the 4th century and venerated as the patron saints of northern Sardinia. The building dates back to the second half of the 12th century and was the parish church of the now- extinct village of Lorzia. The building is constructed of exposed red bricks. The gabled façade features a plastered cornice with an iron cross at the top, while just below this cornice is a small cross-shaped window. The arched door is framed by trachyte blocks. The interior has a single nave, having recently undergone renovations. The walls are plastered, and the roof has been redone with exposed wooden beams. Behind the altar are the statues of the three saints after whom the church is dedicated.

A short distance away is the church of San Nicola, built between the 16th and 17th centuries. It has the classic gabled façade of country churches, with a square door flanked by basalt blocks. Above it is a small oculus and a bell gable at the top. On the right side, you can see the buttresses, while on the left side are the spaces that were once intended to accommodate the faithful on pilgrimage. The single central nave, now plastered and painted white, is divided by two arches that support the roof, while a niche houses the statue of the saint.

About 250 meters to the south is the church of Santa Barbara, which dates back to the same period as the church of San Nicola. The architectural style is also very similar, with a rectangular building, a gabled façade topped by an iron cross, and a square door framed by trachyte blocks. Here too, the buttresses are visible on the right side, while the rooms intended to accommodate the faithful are on the left. Similarities between these two churches are also evident inside, with the single nave divided by two arches supporting the gabled roof.

The last two rural churches in the Bono area are those dedicated to Santa Restituta and Sant’Ambrogio, which are located a few meters apart. Some studies suggest that both were built in the 17th century.

The church of Santa Restituta is the larger of the two. It has a rectangular plan, a gabled façade surmounted by an iron cross, and a square door framed in trachyte blocks with a small rectangular window above it. The side walls are supported by two buttresses on each side, which correspond to the internal arches. The same arches, made of exposed tuff and trachyte blocks, divide the single nave into three bays. The decorated altar has a statue of the saint to whom the church is dedicated at its centre. Four columns contribute to a regular division of the spaces, while at either end are two additional statues of saints.

The smaller church of Sant’Ambrogio has similar structural characteristics to the previous one, with a rectangular plan, a gabled façade topped by an iron cross, and a square door framed in trachyte blocks. On the right side, you can see two buttresses, also found on the left side, but now covered by spaces used for civil services. Inside, a single arch helps support the gabled roof, while the simple altar features a statue of the Saint within a niche and four columns, two on each side, supporting the decorative architrave above.

The Bono territory is rich in archaeological sites that testify to the millennia-old human presence in these areas. Most of the nuraghi are simple, with a single tower, but several complex nuraghi can also be found, such as “Sas Doppias” and “Monte Acchile,” as well as tombs of the giants at “Pranighedda” and “Ortivai.” The greatest concentration of these sites is to the north and south, with the central part of the area lacking any archaeological discoveries.