Drive along the S.S.131 North for about km 35, take the junction for Santa Giusta-Oristano South; after km 1,5 you’ll reach the center of Santa Giusta.
The church of Santa Giusta, probably built during the first half of the 12th century, is one of the most significant monuments of Romanesque architecture and of the Sardinian artistic heritage. The exceptional integrity of its medieval structures also give it considerable importance in off-island circles.
This imposing construction consists of anaula with underlying crypt, divided into three naves by columns, all different from one another, as are the capitals, almost all in marble, dating from Roman times and taken from the ancient city of Tharros. The roof of the central nave is in wood, whereas the side naves have cross-vaults
The crypt is the only example in Sardinian Romanesque architecture constructed entirely in masonry. It has a rectangular ground plan with cross vaults resting on columns. As in the aula, here too the columns and capitals are spolia of previous monuments which were adapted for insertion in the Romanesque structure.
Externally, the wall finishes, in carefully worked limestone, are noteworthy for their originality with respect to other buildings of the Romanesque period on the island.
The portal of the façade bears sculpted effigies of a lion and a lioness clawing deer. These two beasts are remarkable for their natural detail, indeed you can note the difference in sex. The bell tower to the right of the building was rebuilt at a later date.
This monument is also interesting from an historical point of view since the “Giudici”(administrative rulers) of Arborea used the square fronting the church for holding their courts of justice.
