Transcript An island, a continent: Sardinia Here’s my region: geographical and historical outline

An island, a continent: Sardinia
Here’s my region: geographical and
historical outline
Some hints about history
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The first inhabitants came from Northern Africa, from the Iberian peninsula,
from Liguria and from Tuscany. The settlers tilled the land, started to trade
and exploited the obsidian, a volcanic glass, that they sold to merchants from
Corsica and Provence.
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In about 2,500-2,000 B.C. with the people from Greece and Crete, we have
the first urban settlements and some sheep-farming activities. They made
tools more pleasant, introduced the cult of the dead with tombs and niches
called “domus de janas”(fairies’ houses) and reproduced the dwellings of the
first Sardinians, circular and with a cone shaped roof.
From the Nuraghi onwards
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In about 1,500 B.C. we have the Nurarghic Age or the Bronze Age,
characterized by the creation of the “nuraghi” and the fusion of bronze.The
nuraghi, made with huge stones and a vaulted roof, situated in a
commanding position, represent the mark of this age, the most flourishing in
the history of Sardinia.
The domination of the Phoenicians in the IX and VIII century B.C.
influenced life on the coasts, with the building of sea ports and later, with the
Carthagenese, of a road network, houses and water facilities.
The Roman conquest in 238 B.C. brought streets, baths and temples, and the
seeding of land for corn growing.
The Christian Age introduced olive trees and vines and factories for brickworks.
With the Vandals and the rise of the Byzantine in 533 A.C., followed by the
Pisani, the Spanish, the French, the Austrian and the Piemontesi, Sardinia
started to acquire some habits of the conquerors but it remains a wild land,
with a routine life mainly influenced by winds and the sea.
Geographical features
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Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, with
its 23,815 square km, including the small islands surrounding it: S.
Antioco, S. Pietro, the Asinara, La Maddalena and Caprera.
It has the shape of a footprint or of a sandal print, and for this reason
the ancient Greeks called it Ichnusa (footprint) or Sandaliotis (sandal
print). The edges of this shape are the coasts, very pictoresque and
varied.
The hinterland is characterized by fruitful planes called Campidani
(from the Latin campus), plateaus and mountain chaines, such as the
Gennargentu (literally the silver door) with the Lamarmora peak, the
mountains of Oliena and the needles of the Sette Fratelli (the Seven
Brothers).
Geographical features 2
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The coasts of Sardinia are generally high and rocky, with deep bays
and inlets surrounded by small isles. Sardinian rocks go back to the
Ancient Paleozoic (300,000 years ago), so there aren’t any high
mountains because of the long erosion process.
The Gennargentu is the highest peak in the center of the island (1,384
m.) and the Mount Limbara (1,362) is the highest in the North.
The climate is generally mild, influenced by the Atlantic, African and
Artic air masses. During the year, approximately 300 days are sunny
and the others rainy, with a great concentration of rainS in winter and
autumn, sometimes in spring too.
The island is very windy, the mistral ( a North-West wind, fresh and
strong) dominates but also the Sirocco and the Levant are very
frequent, especially along the east coast.
The map
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Here’s a map of our
island with its four
provinces: Cagliari
(the headtown),
Sassari, Oristano and
Nuoro.
Some photos of our main towns
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CAGLIARI
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ORISTANO
Nuoro and Sassari
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Nuoro
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Sassari
Towns and villages of Sardinia – The
new provinces
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In Sardinia there are 377 villages, 1.648.046 inhabitants,
on a surface of 24.090 kmq and a density of 68
inhabitants for kmq.
Sardinia has got 4 new provinces:
(CI) Carbonia- Iglesias, with the chief town IglesiasCarbonia
(MD) Medio-Campidano, with the chief town Sanluri
(OG) Ogliastra, with the chief town Lanusei-Tortolì
(OT) Olbia-Tempio, with the chief town Olbia-tempio
SARDINIAN TRADITIONAL
COSTUMES
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The most typical costumes are
local, varying from village to
village. The typical element of the
man’s costume are the cap, the
shirt, the gilet, the jacket, the
“ragas”, the white pants of linen,
the coat, the characteristic
“gabbanu” – typical of the
pastoral tradition and the
mastruca, a big skin capsize of
ship with wool. Besides we often
find the “collettu”, a coat of
leather as long as the knee,
opened in the front and held by a
leather belt.
The female costume
The female costume is, usually very
rich and colurful, with a shawl and a
head scarf, a white blouse and a corset
of different materials and colours. The
skirt is pleated and usually completed
by a a colourful apron made with fine
materials.The costume is decorated
with rich jewels made with gold or
silver, and coral or pearl mounted in it.
The costume represents an ancient
way of dressing thet reveals where
you come from, your social class and
your origins. It is still popular in
everyday life, especially in small
centres, in a less decorated and poorer
version.
Archaelogy in Sardinia
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Nuraghi are defensive structures
dating back to the II millennium
b.c., that is the Age of Bronze.
They are circular towers with the
shape of a truncated cone made
with polished stone, with internal
rooms and dome-shaped ceilings.
Their use is still controversial,
some think it had a defensive role,
some think it was used a s a
religious structure to gather the
community in particular situations
(wars, plagues, social innovations)
Archeology in Sardinia
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The city of Nora was founded
by the Phoenician around the
IX century b.c. In the early
period of Roman domination,
Nora was probably the seat of
the Governorship and later it
was proclaimed a municipium,
enjoying a period of prosperity
especially in the II and III
century a.d.
ROMAN THERMAE
Fordongianus is the most
important Roman city in the
interior of the island. During
the period of the Roman
invasions the Romans changed
the settlement into a fortified
outpost: Forum Traiani. The
Roman baths are the main
attraction of this place where
hot water still flows from
some springs.
PRANU MUTTEDDU
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The necropolis of Pranu
Mutteddu, a few kilometres
from Cagliari, is an important
remain of the Neolithic
civilization in Sardinia. The
main attraction is the “domus
de janas” graves, dug in large
sandstone blocks carried from
far away to the centre of a
large circle with menhir. The
long line of menhir is
orientated along the course of
the sun.
THE TOPHET
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The foundation of the
Phoenician town of S. Antioco
(Ca) was accompanied by that
of the tophet, a particular form
of necropolis and sanctuary
typical of the PhoenicianPunic civilization in the
Western Mediterranean sea; it
is an open air sacred area
where only the ashes of dead
born babies and children were
buried.
MAIN FESTIVALS
The festival of S. Efisio begins
on the 1st of May. It is
dedicated to the omonymous
martyr that the ancient
Sardinians used to implore to
be saved from the terrible
effects of a plague and during
the pirates’ invasion in 1655. A
solemn procession with the
statue of the saint leaves from
the district of Stampace, in
Cagliari, and finishes in a
small church dedicated to the
saint in Nora
THE SARTIGLIA
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It takes place in February in
Oristano: it is an ancient
equestrian joust with Spanish
origins during which the best
riders have to take a steel star
hanging from a rope with the
point of the sword, without
stopping their fast riding along
the streets of the town. The
winner is the rider who takes
more stars. Riders wear
traditional costumes and a
characteristic white mask.
THE REDEMEER FESTIVAL
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It is the most important
religious festival in Nuoro; it
takes place every 29th August
from 1901 on the Ortobene
Mountain. It is dedicated to
Christ, the Redemeer: pilgrims
go on foot to the town of
Nuoro till the top of the
Ortobene and there they take
part to all the religious events
celebrated by the Bishop of
Nuoro. It is a very solemn
festival.
SARDINIAN GASTRONOMY
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SARDINIAN GASTRONOMY IS ORIGINAL AND RICH,
BASED ON ANCIENT RECIPES HANDED DOWN FROM
GENERATION TO GENERATION.
Each province has its own tradition and uses
the typical products of the area. The
geographical posiition of the island,
surrounded by the sea, the main ingredients of
Sardinian gastronomy are very different but
also very simple and natural.
STARTERS
Starters, preceding
lunch and dinner,
are represented by
mixed salted pork
meats, cured ham,
Sardinian pecorino
cheese, olives, and
fresh vegetables.
You may also find
starters including
crabs, mussels,
clams, snails,
lobster, octopus and
sea dates.
BREAD AND PASTA
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The Sardinian tradition has
different kinds of pasta, dried and
fresh, and typical breads. The
basic ingredient is the hard bran
of grain, used to prepare
malloreddus, the bread “carasau”
(also known as “music card”); the
fregola, made with a handmade
pasta in a small marbles shape and
toasted in the oven; the
“culurgionis”, with ricotta
stuffing.
SECOND COURSE
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The most characteristic meat
dishes are pork on the spit,
roasted and flavoured with
branches of myrtle, kid and
stewed lamb, and also mixed
grill of fish.
PORK MEAT
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In Sardinia pork meats are
prepared according to ancient
procedures and with very
simple ingredients: salt, few
spices and an accurate
seasoning. The characteristic
pork meat is the pig or wild
boar mountain ham; also dried
or smoked sausages are
considered a symbol of the
island.
CHEESE
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SARDINIA IS THE SYMBOL
OF THE PASTORAL
CIVILIZATION. GOAT AND
SHEEP BREEDING
REPRESENTS THE MOST
IMPORTANT
ECONOMICXAL ACTIVITY.
Among the most appreciated
cheeses we find the Sardinian
pecorino, a D.O.C. cheeese
produced exclusively in
Sardinia.
SWEETS
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The traditional Sardinian
pastry is varied and has sweets
for every event. The basic
ingredients for most of them
are the almonds; the most
appreciated by everybody are
the famous “amaretti” and “is
pabassinas”, with raisins and
sapa.
WINES
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SARDINIA HAS AN
ANCIENT WINESPRODUCING TRADITION,
WITH HIGH QUALITY
WINES. They are strong and
with a high gradation. The
most famous wines are the
Cannonau, the Malvasia, the
Vermentino, the Nuragus, the
Monica.
LIQUORS
Also the liquors have a very
ancient tradition, as they
contain many aromatic plants
characteristic of the island
landscape. The most typical is
the myrtle, white and red, but
also the liquor of the Indian fig
and the “aqua vitae”, known as
“filu ‘e ferru” are very
popular.
SOME SHOTS OF THE ISLAND
The end…
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Dear friends, this is the end of our long journey
across our region. We hope you will like it, even
if it’s a bit long…We would have liked to say
many more things, well then, come and see what
we missed!
We send you our best greetings and we are sure
that you can forgive us if we were boring. Lots of
love from classrooms 2nd a and 3rd a of the
“Giovanni Pascoli” school and from our teacher
Ms. Cambosu. Byeeeeeeeeeee!!!!