Eng
] Are you familiar with the Sardinian carpets of Aggius? The textile art of Gallura, and more generally of the Sardegna,
has ancient roots. The origins of this tradition appear to date back to Roman and Byzantine times
, when the textile industry played an essential role in trade across the Mediterranean Sea. In some documents from the 4th century AD, the word ‘rug’
was already associated with the adjective ‘Sardinian’
, a sign of the link between craftsmanship and the region
even in ancient times. Today, Sardinian carpets
, as well as tapestries and other creations, are unique
and distinctive decorative items
, brought to life by the skilful work of Sardinian women
. Rather than speaking of the
‘art of Sardinian carpet-making’
, however, it is more appropriate to speak of ‘arts’, in the plural, as Sardegna boasts several centres of textile craftsmanship. In Gallura, the most famous of these is Aggius
, a municipality that flies the Italian Touring Club’s Orange Flag
.
The production of Aggius carpets
has been a source of livelihood and economic support since the nineteenth century. Local craft workshops have never ceased to produce carpets and continue to pass on the art
from one generation to the next. Aggius carpets
are distinguished by their colours and patterns, which bring to life a sort of ‘textile painting’
. The weaving style is known as ‘a dati’: a series of horizontal stripes separated by a band of a different shade, known as ‘pomu
’. They are large in size and are made from linen and carded wool
, with stripes that create a riot of colour
.
To admire the carpets of Aggius, simply visit the Oliva Carta Cannas Ethnographic Museum
, which houses authentic treasures of textile art. It is situated in the heart of Aggius’s historic centre
and features spacious exhibition areas with traditional granite architecture. It showcases the rich history, traditions and culture of the Gallura region from the 1600s to the present day, as well as ‘The Permanent Exhibition of Aggius Rugs’
. As well as admiring carpets and tapestries, in the Weaving Room
you can watch an explanation and demonstration of the ancient local art of weaving.
Explore the culture and nature of Northern Sardinia: places to discover, local dishes, traditions and stories from the region.
‘Domus de Janas’ is a Sardinian expression meaning ‘house of the fairies’. Legends tell of beings that are not particularly spiritual – demons, somewhere between human and divine.
Sardegna has a wine-making tradition stretching back thousands of years; the earliest evidence of wine-making dates as far back as 1400 BC.
There is a story linked to the island of Tavolara which tells that King Carlo Alberto of Savoy appointed his only son as king of the island.
The Ludurru necropolis is situated in Buddusò, and the domus de janas date back to 3200–2800 BC, famous examples of the Sardegna Neolithic period
The Neptune Caves are spectacular caves dating back to prehistoric times. They are located at Alghero, in Northern Sardinia
The Church of St Francis in Alghero is one of the finest examples of Catalan Gothic architecture in Sardegna
