A civilisation of 7,000 nuraghi
Nuraghi, truncated cone-shaped towers built from dry stone blocks, are the most recognisable symbol of ancient Sardinia. Over 7,000 have been recorded across the island, evidence of a civilisation spread capillary across the territory between the Bronze and Iron Ages. The Su Nuraxi complex, near Barumini, was the first Sardinian site to enter the UNESCO World Heritage list, in 1997.
Masks and rites of the Barbagia carnival
The wooden masks of the Mamuthones, accompanied by the Issohadores, parade every year during the Mamoiada carnival in one of the oldest and most studied pastoral traditions in Sardinia, likely of pre-Christian origin. Similar rites, with their own masks, take place in other Barbagia villages such as Ottana (Boes e Merdules) and Orotelli. We also cover this on our Central Sardinia page, where these rites originate.
The main festivals and events
The Sardinian calendar is marked by festivals handed down for centuries: the Feast of Sant'Efisio in Cagliari, on 1 May, is one of the longest religious processions in Europe, with over 4,000 participants in traditional dress. The Cavalcata Sarda, in Sassari in late May, brings together horsemen and costumes from across the island. From September to December, Autunno in Barbagia brings a different Barbagia village to life every weekend with crafts, tastings and folk music – a genuine opportunity to discover inland villages outside the summer season.
Tenore singing and the Sardinian language
Tenore singing, a form of four-voice vocal polyphony (bassu, contra, boche and mesu boche), was recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2005. Sardinian, recognised as a minority language, is still spoken daily across much of the inland villages, with distinct dialect variants between the north and south of the island.
