Culture

Sardegna East Land is a territory with a culture with truly ancient roots, yet which has managed to evolve over time whilst preserving its identity on a unique experiential journey involving all 5 senses.

There is the culture to be heard in these locations, where the language and oral traditions of the older generations are handed down – such as the Canto a Tenore, recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage and which can be discovered in the Museo Multimediale del Canto a Tenore ​in Bitti. In the province of Nuoro, men’s voices can be heard in a ‘cantu a cuncordu’ – a traditional type of polyphonic singing, along with the choirs of Nuoro and Meana Sardo, su Ballu tundu animating the piazzas during village festivals, accompanied by the unmistakable sound of the accordion. Marvellous jazz music resounds at the international festivals of Cala Gonone and Nuoro. These are the characteristic sounds of Sardegna East Land, heavy on the cowbells of the Mamuthones, the typical masks of Mamoiada that can be admired in the Museum of Mediterranean Masks, the symbol of the apotropaic carnival of Barbagia yet celebrated also throughout other towns such as Ottana, Orotelli, Sarule, Orani, Lula and more. 

The masks are first worn on the Feast Day of Sant’Antonio, which sees the lighting of great fires. The crackling of these immense flames forms another sound that one carries in their heart forever.

It is the sound of the stories that echo in Gavoi throughout the Festival Tuttestorie, in the artistic performances of the Festival dei Tacchi. It is the voice that reads the novels of Grazia Deledda, the first woman to have received a Nobel Prize in Literature, and of the many writers to have earned the capital the title as the ‘Sardinian Athens’.

The sounds of the Eastern Sardinia culture are the pawing of horses in the Ardie, the evocative and daring equestrian competitions of Noragugume and the rush of the water in the only mill still operating today, located in Olzai.

Say cheese! You are in a highly photographic destination. Admire the imposing remnants of the Nuragic civilisation, the imposing Nuraghe like that of Nolza di Meana, ancient temples dedicated to worshiping water such as the Su Tempiesu, and villages carved out in the belly of a mountain such as Tiscali.  Then there are the ancient prehistoric tombs known as the Tombs of Giants, like the Imbertighe and the Madau necropolis, the mysterious mammillary baetylus of Tamuli. The extraordinary bronze statuettes unearthed in the Sanctuary of Abini, the Romanzesu amber necklaces exhibited at the Archaeological Museum of Nuoro. 

Great contemporary art is displayed at the MAN in Nuoro and at the MAMA in Atzara. Then there is the museum dedicated to showcasing the creations of the great designer Costantino Nivola, located in his hometown of Orani. There are unique villages that are veritable museums, such as Ulassai – home to the great Maria Lai – coloured like Orgosolo with its iconic murals. There are also captivating geometric artefacts such as Sa Burra, the rug technique typical of Sarule and Gadoni. 

This is culture to be felt, rough to the touch, such as the Orbace fabric with which the elegant traditional garments that each town adorns, showing them off with great pride during the magnificent festivals. They can all be seen together throughout the splendid Redentore parade or at the Museo del Costume in Nuoro. More can be discovered about the processing of this ancient fabric in Tiana, home to the only fulling mill still in operation. Run your hand across the soft velvet of the garments created by the Orani tailors and along the rough wood of the traditional carnival masks in the workshops of the Ottana mask-makers.
Feel the delicateness of the elegant filigree worked by the goldsmith masters in Dorgali. 

In Sardegna East Land is the Blue Zone, the land of longevity comprised of villages surrounded by nature, such as Perdasdefogu in Ogliastra, with its unique flavours seasoned with the exceptional Ilbono olive oil. This land is the triumph of freshly-baked bread, celebrated in the Museo del Pane located in Borore, home to Pane Carasau, Pistoccu, Pane e Vresa and strong cheeses such as the Fiore Sardo, Casu Axedu, Piritte, Ricotta and the Su Ischidu from Silanus. Then there are the soft cheeses with which sweet memories are prepared, such as the Seadas and Casatinas. The culture here also includes unique and rare hand-rolled pasta such as su filindeu, i culurgiones and su succu. This is the culture of mountain villages, also expressed in the Tonara nougat and in the Carapigna of the Aritzo ghiacciai.
The Eastern Sardinian culture ranges from the perfume of its Cannonau and Mandrolisai wines and liqueurs made, for example, from prickly pear in Dualchi or with Pompia, a unique citrus fruit found in Siniscola.