View source for Nuraghe

==General layout==
The typical nuraghe is situated in areas where previous prehistoric Sardinian cultures had been distributed, that, is not far from [[alluvial]] plains (though few nuraghes appear in plains currently as they were destroyed by human activities such as agriculture, dams and road building) and has the outer shape of a truncated conical tower, thus resembling a medieval tower, with a [[Tholos (architecture)|tholos]]-like vault inside.<ref name="museo">[[:it:Museo archeologico nazionale di Nuoro]], [http://www.museoarcheologiconuoro.beniculturali.it/index.php?it/32/siti-e-monumenti/14/il-sarcidano-orroli-nuraghe-arrubiu Il Sarcidano: Orroli, Nuraghe Arrubiu] at www.museoarcheologiconuoro.beniculturali.it. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630132832/http://www.museoarcheologiconuoro.beniculturali.it/index.php?it%2F32%2Fsiti-e-monumenti%2F14%2Fil-sarcidano-orroli-nuraghe-arrubiu |date=2015-06-30 }}</ref>

The structure's walls consist of three components: an outer layer (tilted inwards and made of many layers of stones whose size diminishes with increasing height: mostly, lower layers consist of rubble masonry, while upper layers tend to be of [[ashlar]] masonry); an inner layer, made of smaller stones (to form a [[Corbel arch|corbelled dome]] of the bullet-shaped ''[[Beehive tomb|tholos]]'' type, and where ashlar masonry is used more frequently); and an intermediate layer of very small pieces and soil, which makes the whole construction very sturdy: it stands only by virtue of the weight of its stones, which may each amount to several tons. Some nuraghes are about {{Convert|20|m|ft|round=5}} in height, the tallest one known, [[Nuraghe Arrubiu]], reached a height of {{Convert|25|-|30|m|ft|round=5}}.<ref name="museo"/>

The entrance leads into a corridor, on whose sides are often open niches, that lead to the round chamber. A spiral stone stair, leading to upper floors (if present) and/or to a terrace, was built within the thick walls and it was illuminated by embrasures. The Nuragic towers might have as much as three corbel chambers one on top of the other. In complex nuraghes corridors were often present, sometimes corbelled, such as at [[Nuraghe Santu Antine|Santu Antine]], in which the corbelled arch corridors were superimposed on two levels, and reached a length of {{Convert|27|m|ft}}.

Today fewer than 7,000&nbsp;nuraghes remain standing; their number was originally larger. Nuraghes are most prevalent in the northwest and south-central parts of the island.<ref>''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]'', "Italy."</ref>
<gallery name="Construction" details="">
File:Buddusò - Nuraghe Loelle (08).JPG|Access
Nicchia est del Nuraghe Pranu.JPG|Niche of the central chamber
File:Bortigali - Nuraghe Orolo (33).JPG|Stairwell
Santa antine (6).JPG|Tholos of Sant'Antine nuraghe
Su_mulinu_-_vista.jpg|Window and embrasures
Nuraghe, 1600 B.C..jpg|Reconstruction of a nuraghe from 1600 B.C.
</gallery>