Sardinia
Sardinia is an island in the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy, France and Spain, south of Corsica.
It is called "Sardigna" or "Sardinna" in Sardinian language, "Sardegna" in italian, and was called "Ichnusa" by Phoenicians and "Sandalyon" by Greeks because of its shape, recalling a footprint.
It is an Autonomous Region of Italy. The regional capital is Cagliari ("Casteddu", about 220,000 inhabitants). The Region is divided into four provinces (Cagliari, Sassari, Nuoro and Oristano), but another four have been recently created in the latest 2001 (Olbia-Tempio, Ogliastra, Sulcis-Iglesiente and Medio Campidano) and will be working possibily during this decade.
Important towns (with local names):
- Sassari, Tathari (about 120,000 inhabitants),
- Nuoro, Nugoro,
- Oristano, Aristanis,
- Olbia, Terranoa Pausania,
- Tempio Pausania, Tempiu,
- Alghero, L'Alguer,
- Ozieri, Othieri,
- Iglesias, Iglesias,
- Carbonia, Crabonia,
- Quartu Sant’Elena, Quartu Santa Aleni,
- Siniscola, Finiscole
- Macomer, Maccummele
- Gavoi, Gaboi
- Posada, Pasatta
- Porto Torres, Torres.
Plenty of extraordinary tourist areas. Costa Smeralda, Gennargentu among all.
Sardinia's history is very ancient. In 1979 human remains were found that were dated 150,000 BC. Following retrievals are of about 15,000 BC. It is supposed ancient Sardinians descend from a mysterious people: Shardana. In Prehistory it developed the commerce of "ossidiana", a stone used for the production of the first rough tools, and this activity brought Sardinians to have relationships with most of the mediterranean peoples.
In the age from Neolithic to roman, the Nuragic civilisation took place in the island. Still today, more than 7,000 "Nuraghe" survive.
A Roman province, the island was self-governed from 9th to 12th century (Giudicati, with the exception of Arboreaìs Giudicato, which was defeated by Spain (Aragon in 1350 appr.
During 18th century Sardinia was an independent kingdom of Savoia familym from Turin, Piedmont. At the time of Italian reunification in 1860, the King of Sardinia became King of Italy. See /History
The language of Sardinia is Sardinian, a Romance language with obscure origins in phoenician, etruscan and oriental roots. It has been significantly supplanted by Italian for official purposes, and it is completely unknown by some youth groups, specially in lower census of Cagliari, while it's still the main national language (Sardinians identify themselves as a People and as a Nation) in facts.
Currency is now Euro (being part of Italy), but Sardinians will still unofficially refer to "su Francu" or "su Pidzu": 1 Francu = 1,000 Old Italian Liras.
/History of Sardinia /Touristic_destinations of Sardinia /Sardinian Traditions /Famous_people from Sardinia Sardinian Archaeological and artistic sites