The nuraghe is the main type of megalithic edifice found in Sardinia, dating back before 1000 BC The typical nuraghe is usually situated in a panoramic spot and has the shape of a truncated conical tower.
It has no foundations and stands only by virtue of the weight of its stones, which may weigh as much as several tons Among the approximately 7000 existing nuraghi in Sardinia, most are simple, made only by a tower with an entrance at the base, one large internal compartment and a staircase which leads to the top of the tower.
There are also many nuraghi more complex with more towers connected to a central tower, they have many rooms, they can have more than one floor and then corridors, stairways and covered walkways examples of such archaic beauty and majestic complexity are the Nuraghe Losa at Abbasanta (NU), the Nuraghe Santu Antine of Torralba (SS) and the complex on Nuraxi of Barumini (CA) declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Virtually all nuraghi or are placed on top of a hill or the edge of a plateau, however in a position of dominion than the surrounding area. This element, along with the character of strength, indicates that the nuraghe was a fortified building for purposes of defense.