The Sanctuary of San Paolo Eremita, located on Via Vincenzo Monti in Sassari, is a church rich in history and traditions that has its roots in past centuries. The current building, constructed between 1796 and 1918, is the result of a long process of reconstruction and restoration that saw the integration of different architectural styles. The church presents a simple structure, with two naves parallel to the rocky ridge on which it stands. The facade is made of exposed stone, in the typical style of Gallura, and recalls the gable-roof architecture of the late 17th century.

The Simulacrum of San Paolo Eremita

One of the most iconic elements of the sanctuary is the statue of San Paolo Eremita, located in the niche behind the main altar, recently transferred from the parish church of Monti. The statue, approximately 1.45 meters tall, depicts the Saint with a book in his right hand and a staff in his left, wearing a bronze-colored tunic. This simulacrum, made in Ortisei in 1955, replaces the original one destroyed in a fire. A portrait of the ancient effigy remains, preserved inside the sanctuary. The new statue came into use the same year it was created and quickly became an object of great devotion.

The Ex Votos and Offerings of the Faithful

The Sanctuary of San Paolo Eremita does not collect goldsmith items or valuables among the ex votos offered by the faithful, but is enriched by symbolic donations such as rosaries, paintings, and sacred objects. Among the most significant gifts are the chandelier of the central nave, the flooring of the sacristy, and the altar railing, all ex votos offered as a sign of gratitude for graces received. In the 1970s-80s, during the church’s renovation, many of the ex votos were removed, but some objects of great historical and spiritual value, such as a painting by Doveri depicting San Paolo, dating from the end of the 19th century, have been preserved in the parish house of Monti.

History and Origins of the Sanctuary

The first records of the Sanctuary date back to ancient documents such as the Rationes Decimarum Italiae-Sardinia, which mention the existence of an “ecclesia de Monte” as early as the 14th century, without specifying its dedication. Subsequently, in 1580, the historian Giovanni Francesco Fara refers to the Ecclesia Sancti Pauli, which appears as a priory belonging to an unidentified religious order.

The sanctuary is also linked to a popular legend, according to which it was built by a bandit, wounded during a conflict, who invoked divine help. In response to his prayers, San Paolo Eremita appeared, healed him, and converted him. As a sign of gratitude, the bandit built the church with his own hands. The fame of the miracle spread quickly, so much so that many other bandits went to the sanctuary to ask for forgiveness for their crimes.

The Sanctuary and the Bandits: The Days of Indulgence

During the 19th century, the sanctuary became a meeting place for fugitives during the three days of indulgence granted on the occasion of the feast of San Paolo. On these days, bandits could meet their families, which often led to disorder. To put an end to this situation, in 1873 the sub-prefect of Ozieri, Cambiagj, asked the bishop of Bisarcio-Ozieri to deconsecrate the church and transfer the statue to another location. During the Fascist Ventennio, the authorities initiated a deforestation process around the sanctuary to facilitate territorial control by law enforcement.

The Statue of Spanish Origin

Another curious tradition tells that the statue of San Paolo had Spanish origins, and that a group of pilgrims from Alghero tried to bring it back to the city. However, the statue mysteriously disappeared during their journey, only to reappear in its place of origin. After several failed attempts, the pilgrims abandoned the endeavor, and the statue remained in the sanctuary, thus confirming the spiritual and cultural bond with the territory of Monti.

The Consecration and the Priory

The Sanctuary of San Paolo Eremita was officially consecrated on July 31, 1348 by the bishop of Bisarcio, Marzocco, and the bishop of Castro, Bernardo. For several centuries, the sanctuary was part of a priory, active at least between 1341 and 1358, as attested by documents from the Rationes Decimarum. In 1581, during the diocesan synod of Alghero, the “Priorat de Monte” was mentioned again by Bishop Andrea Bacallar, thus confirming the importance of the sanctuary in the spiritual and administrative management of the diocese.

The Spiritual Heritage of the Sanctuary

Beyond its history rich in events and legends, the Sanctuary of San Paolo Eremita is an important point of reference for the local community. The devotional tradition linked to the saint remains strong, and every year the faithful gather to celebrate his feast, keeping a centuries-old tradition alive. The legend of the converted bandit, the stories of miracles, and the role of the sanctuary as a refuge for fugitives, give this sacred place an aura of mystery and sanctity that makes it unique in the religious landscape of Sardinia.

Conclusion

The Sanctuary of San Paolo Eremita in Sassari is a tangible testimony to the deep spirituality that permeates Sardinia. Through its legends, popular devotion, and long ecclesiastical history, this sanctuary represents a place of pilgrimage and reflection, rich in traditions that withstand the passage of time. Visiting the sanctuary means immersing oneself in an atmosphere of peace and sanctity, discovering one of the hidden gems of Sardinian religious heritage.

Other raw information

The current church was built between 1796 and 1918. Aligned parallel to the ridge, it has two naves. Outside, the squares obscure the possibility of tracing the original conformation. Built in exposed stone in the typical Gallurese style with a late 17th-century gable facade.Description: The statue of San Paolo Eremita has a book in its right hand and a staff in its left. It wears a bronze-colored tunic. Crafted in Ortisei in 1955, it reproduces the original effigy destroyed in a fire. Of the old one, a portrait remains, preserved in the Sanctuary. Approximately 1.45 meters tall, it is located in the niche behind the altar recently transported from the parish church of Monti. Entered into use: in the year 1955 Image: Statue
Notes on the collection: Among the ex votos there are no goldsmith items or valuables. The Saint is given rosaries, paintings, objects that contribute to enriching the church. For example, the chandelier of the central nave, the flooring of the sacristy, the altar railing are ex votos for graces received. A large part of the ex votos were removed in the decade 1970-80, when the church was renovated. Significant is a painting by Doveri depicting San Paolo and dating from the end of the 1800s, early 1900s, a copy of a painting kept in the parish house of Monti. Type of ex votos: Luminaries, Tablets or plaques with inscriptions, Various objects Current conservation: The objects are kept at the parish priest’s house in Monti.

The first record of the ecclesia de Monte (its dedication is not specified) is found in the Rationes Decimarum Italiae-Sardinia (Vatican City, 1945). Fara (in Sardiniae Corographiam, 1580) recalls the Ecclesia Sancti Pauli, a priory belonging to an unidentified order.
Gian Paolo Caredda, Sagre e feste in Sardegna, Della Torre, 1990, p. 230. A legend holds that the Sanctuary was built by a bandit who, wounded in a conflict, invoked divine intervention. This manifested with San Paolo Eremita who healed and converted the bandit, who built the church with his own hands. Later, other bandits visited the church asking for forgiveness for their crimes. In this regard, a report by sub-prefect Cambiagj of the District Office of Public Security of Ozieri, dated September 24, 1873 and addressed to the bishop of the Diocese of Bisarcio-Ozieri, asked the same bishop to deconsecrate the church and order the transport of the statue and everything else pertaining to worship to another church within the inhabited area. The motivation for this request was linked to the problems caused by the three days of indulgence granted to fugitives on the occasion of the feast, during which many of them used to go to the Sanctuary where they could meet their families. However, this gave rise to disorder, amplified by the wild nature in which the Sanctuary is situated. For this reason, during the Ventennio, the Fascist authorities carried out a deforestation process to allow law enforcement to have greater control of the territory.
Another tradition holds that the statue of the Saint is of Spanish origin, and for this reason the population of Alghero claimed ownership. It is said that a group of pilgrims from Alghero arrived in Monti to bring the statue back to the city. During the night, as the journey was difficult since the roads were not passable like today’s, they stopped to sleep in the open. In the morning they discovered that the statue had disappeared. So they returned to the Sanctuary and found the statue in the place from which it had been taken. After three days of vain attempts, the pilgrims from Alghero definitively abandoned the endeavor.
The Sanctuary was consecrated on July 31, 1348 by the bishop of Bisarcio, Marzocco and the bishop of Castro, Bernardo. A Priory existed between 1341 and 1358. In 1581 at chapter 54 of the diocesan synod of Alghero by Bishop Andrea Bacallar we still find the Priorat de Monte mentioned.
From the Rationes Decimarum Italiae in the 14th centuries-Sardinia edited by P. Sella, Vatican City, 1945, the priory of Monti appears under the jurisdiction of the Bishopric of Castro.
The first news about spiritual care we have from the Rationes Decimarum, from which we learn that the church was run by a prior belonging to an unspecified religious order. Fara and Aleo also speak of a monastery attached to the church, but do not specify which religious order it belonged to.