Santadi: Archaeological And Ethnographic Museums, History And Rural Tradition

A route through two museums in the centre of Santadi, with a guided visit in each, to discover the Basso Sulcis: from the Neolithic to the traditional ways of life of rural society.

The Museo Civico Archeologico, at via Umberto I, 17, follows the history of the Basso Sulcis through two rooms, from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages. In the first room you will see fragments of Cardial pottery dating back to 6000 BC. In the second you will find the material from the domus de janas necropolis of Montessu and the votive deposit from the Grotta Pirosu at Su Benatzu, with more than 1,500 objects that bear witness to cave cults in the Nuragic period. Next come the Phoenician and Punic finds from Pani Loriga, a hill inhabited for over 6,000 years. Multimedia aids will help you place finds and sites in their context; a tactile section is designed for blind and partially sighted visitors.

A walk of about 4 minutes, which you do on your own, will take you to the Museo Etnografico “Sa Domu Antiga”, at via Mazzini, 37. The building, dating from the early twentieth century, reflects the typical structure of the Basso Sulcis farmhouse, with the living quarters and a rear courtyard featuring a well and two loggias. At the entrance you will find a large loom and the tools for hand spinning; in the kitchen, the objects used to prepare and preserve food; the faithfully reconstructed bedrooms tell of a private life, far from ornament and devoted to function. In the lollas, the courtyard loggias, are the sections on bread-making, grain processing, farm work and the trades of the blacksmith and the carpenter, while an adjoining room houses the area devoted to wine-growing and winemaking.

The two guided visits, run by museum staff, last 50 minutes each, and a single ticket covers both museums. A combined ticket is also available for €5 for Mìnera Card holders, which includes the guided visit of the two museums and of the Pani Loriga archaeological area.