Ancient Wash House Su Trogliu

Uri is a small centre in the north-west of Sardinia, between Alghero and Sassari. It is located in a hilly area rich in limestone, basalt and trachyte and its territory is characterised by its fascinating valleys. Its archaeological remains are of considerable importance, especially from the Nuragic period (tn* Bronze Age, 1800-1500 BC), as well as other heritage from the more recent past. Among these items is the Ancient Wash House Su Trogliu, located in an alley with the same name at the margins of the historic centre, in the locality Sa Corte. Until the second half of the 19th century there was another wash house near the public fountain, but the problems caused by using ash to wash clothes made the Public Administration decide that the public wash house had to be rebuilt. The town wash house, whose project was entrusted to Silvio Gandini, an architect from Sassari in 1912, ended in 1914. The central basin, rectangular with concave short sides, is made of local trachyte stone and subdivided into smaller basins. As for the water supply, the water flowing from the fountain is conveniently channelled in an underground pipe. In 1934 an electrical lighting system was installed and a part of the land behind the washhouse that belonged to the Town Council was sold. This was because a great amount of rubbish ended up in the basin blown by the wind, severely impacting public hygiene. It remained in function until the middle of the seventies, becoming an important meeting and socialising place for the women of the town. Subsequently, it was left in a state of abandon until the renovation work was completed in 1997. In 2010 a space for groups was built near the structure, in order to give value to that part of the town. The wooden roof still has its original trusses.

Source: pdf record from the Town Council of Uri – brochure in the Library