The Castle of Gioiosa Guardia - Villamassargia


The ruins of the Castle of Gioiosa Guardia are perched on the summit of Monte Domo, a rock formation of volcanic origin.

The castle was built in the first half of the thirteenth century by the Donoratico della Gherardesca family of Pisa.

It was situated strategically in the centre of Villamassargia to survey the access routes to the mining areas of the Iglesias district, together with the Castle of Acquafredda (Siliqua) and the defence system of Villa di Chiesa (Iglesias).

The external defence walls contained various buildings used as lodgings, storehouses, stables, mills and water cisterns.
The most notorious owner of the castle was Count Ugolino della Gherardesca, mentioned by Dante Alighieri in The Divine Comedy. The castle was abandoned in 1432.