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This park is about 4 miles from the hamlet of Santu Lussurgiu, in the province of Nuoro, at about 2.297 ft above sea level; it was named after the local church and the seven springs.

It is basically a wooded area of about 12 acres, with several paths winding through elms, holm oaks, and centuries-old cedars, which thrive thanks to the abundance of spring waters and the pristine natural environment.

The park is actually crossed by a short central road that leads to the “Seven Fountains”: a natural spring of strong diuretic water, which flows from a wall made of engraved stones arranged in a row.

Along the path to the abovementioned spring, there is also the church of the priory of Saint Leonardo, dating back to the XII century and featuring the Maltese cross on its facade – the emblem of the Knights of Jerusalem. Those very knights carried out humanitarian activities, offering shelter and hospital assistance, until 1500 on behalf of the Catholic Church.

The church is, in fact, mentioned in 1341 as a property of the Order of the Hospitallers of Jerusalem; observing its facade, it is still possible to identify two different times of construction: one dating back to the first half of the XII century, and another to the XVI century, when the left side annex was actually erected.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)