The Sardinian culture is a mixture of European (Italian and Spanish), near eastern and north african influences. Besides the roman-catholic church there is a large greek-orthodox community due to the early medieval presence of Byzantium on the island. Some of the characteristics of the Sardinian culture are reported here, specifically dealing with the west side of Sardinia, around Oristano.

Towns and villages in the western part of Sardinia

Oristano (medieval Aristanis) is the capital of the province with the same name, created through an administrative change in the seventies of the previous century. It is the most important center with a small airport (Fenosu), a port and it is the commercial centre for the region. The historical centre and the most important museum, l'Antiquarium Arborense, are worthwhile visiting. More touristical information can be obtained from the Ente per il turismo.

An old fishersmans village is Cabras that lies in the middle of the silted stagni. The best bottarga is produced here. Bottarga is obtained from salted and dried spawn and is used to give a special taste to the spaghetti or pasta. The more mundain seaside resort is Torre Grande with bars and restaurants, a boulevard and a very nice beach around the old Spanish tower.

Arborea, south of Oristano, was built in the twenties and thirties of the previous century under Mussolini. Many Veneti were attracted to Sardinia to start new farms on the recently drained swamps. The style is northern-italian and the architecture was plainly influenced by the main currents of the twenties. Arborea is now a thriving agricultural community and produces milk and dairies of good quality. There is still a kind of rivalry with the surrounding more Sardinian towns because of the different cultural backgrounds.

More to the south finally you will find Terralba, a lively community where the evenings traditionally the people will go out and meet in the main piazza in front of the church. There are much more young people around than in the mountain communities inland. On the coast a small fishermans village can be found called Marceddì, where restaurants serve good fish.

Products of the land

Around Oristano there are many vineyards. Most reknowned wine is the Vernaccia, a strong almost liquorous white wine. The Monica and Nuraghus are used to produce red wines. The dry climate gives the wines a stronger taste. Elsewhere on Sardinia the Canonnau is produced, the finest and most prestigious wine of Sardinia.

The regional liquor is called Mirto, produced from the berries of the mirto, a relative of the blueberry. The leaves are also used when preparing the traditional food based on roasted meta like the porceddu, roasted pork.

The traditional cheese of sheepsmilk (pecorino sardo) is very strong in taste and is produced on all of Sardinia in a large variety. You can find the dolce variant and the most nutty kind. Combined with tomatoes on a piece of bread it is excellent for lunch along the road.

Just like the rest of Italy olives and olive oil are traditional products. Furthermore the tipical salsicce (sausage) in many flavours, although they are hard to find elsewhere because export is restricted due to the plague under the wild pigs.

Thanks to the water of the Tirso it is possible to grow rice in the western parts of Sardinia. The quality is excellent and can be used in salads. More on products from Sardinia can be found on the site of GranSardegna

Local traditions

The most famous of the local traditions is the Sartiglia in Oristano. Here horsemen show their skills, dressed in traditional colourful clothes based on the Spanish folklore and masked. In Cabras every year a contest is held where the men run barefoot through the countryside, commemmorating the flight for the Arabs, carrying with them the statue of the Saint into salvation. In Terralba and other places local manifestations are organized that are worth attending.

The launeddas is the typical instrument similar to the Scottish bagpipes. In Roman times it were the legions that brought the bagpipe to Scotland. There is a variety of groups active that play the traditional music with the bagpipes or sing the old songs of Sardinia.

The crafts

Since the earliest times Sardinia has been famous for it's jewellery, gold silver and especially the red coral. The filigrain technique is a common technique applied with buttons and earrings.

Another known product from Sardinia is the cork. The best cork is gathered from the trees and exported. In Samugheo there is furthermore a thriving industry of woven carpets and a famous ceramics production.

Many Sardinians carry their pattada with them, the Sardinian knife with an iron (or steel) blade and handle in bone, produced in the area of Pattada.

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Index Sardinia

Sardinia, an introduction Prehistoric Sardinia The bronze age on Sardinia: The phenomena of the nuraghi The Phoenicians on Sardinia Sardinia under Punic rule Sardinian culture The natural environment on Sardinia The natural environment: southwest Sardinia Travelling information for Sardinia