Sardinia Quick Facts:

• Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean (after Sicily).
• Sardinia is the fourth least populated region in Italy.
• Sardinia is linked to its extraordinarily beautiful coastline, but visitors who ignore the fascinating culture found inland are missing the real Sardinia.

More of this Feature • Part 2: Ancient Stone Towers: The Nuraghe • Part 3: Visiting Nuragic Villages

Join the Discussion on Sardinia "Anyone ever been to Sardinia?" James

Related Sardinia Resources • Italy Links • Sardinian Traditional Costume Pictures

From Other Guides • Sardinia Links

Elsewhere on the Web • Pecorino Sardo • Pinnettas - Shepherd's Huts

The Interior of Sardinia is a strange and alluring place. Its proximity to Africa is apparent; standing in the central plain you'll think you're lost in the savanna, half expecting elephants to appear on the horizon.

But what appears on the horizon is most often a circular stone tower, either a 3000 year old nuraghe, or a smaller, thatched roof shepherd's hut. Sardinia is chock full of Nuragic, Roman, and Punic remains waiting for tourists to discover them.

Alas, most folks never stop long enough to get to know Sardinia. Even writers entrusted to the task of reader enlightenment have trouble. On my second trip to Sardinia for an archaeological project, I happened to glance at a magazine at the supermarket check-out. Sardinia was mentioned on the cover. I bought it sight unseen.

When I read the article I was astonished. The degree of misinformation was on par with the outpourings of a state at war--almost none of it was even related to the truth.

The author told me, correctly as it turns out, that Sardinia was at the time one of the poorest land masses in Europe. Then he went on to point out that the little shepard's huts were indication of this, leaving me to believe that they were the sole living space of these brave, solitary, and wretchedly impoverished men.

Hut with rock roof - click to enlarge

Nothing could be further than the truth. Shepherds raise sheep whose milk will be used to make Pecorino Sardo, a highly sought-after grating and eating cheese. Most shepherds have quite nice homes in town. In fact, they tend to be some of the wealthier inhabitants. The shepherd's hut is the place where he can make inroads into emptying that 5 liter bottle of vino rosso of his while spending the hot afternoon looking after his charges from the comfort of his mattress--the sheep that he looks after won't leave the shade of the solitary tree in the pasture until the temperature drops in the evening.

And it turns out that these humble shepherd's huts haven't changed in millennia--you'll see the exact footprint of these huts in excavations around Nuragic Villages that date back over 3000 years.

Next page > Ancient Stone Towers: The Nuraghe > Page 1, 2, 3