Italea Sardinia: Roots Workshops to Rediscover Sardinian Culture and Traditions
Italea Sardegna invites you to participate in the Roots Workshops, a unique opportunity to explore the history, crafts, genealogy and flavors of Sardinia. Each event offers an immersion in local traditions through experiential and historical workshops, accompanied by experts in the field.
Participation is free, but places are limited and available by reservation only. Find out the full program and reserve your place for an unforgettable journey into the Sardinia of roots.
Genealogy and Onomastics Workshop: Genesis and evolution of genealogical and onomastic research in Sardinia
Conducted by Raffaele Cau (Ovodda 1972), genealogist, graduate in archivistics and member of the Association of Ecclesiastical Archivists, has been involved in historical-artistic, onomastic and genealogical research since 1998 with several publications on the communities of Ovodda (2011), Atzara (2016), Meana Sardo (2017), Fonni (2019), Simaxis (2022) and Siamanna (2023) to his credit. Since 2013 an employee of the Archdiocese of Oristano where he works in the Diocesan Historical Archives and the Arborense Diocesan Museum.
This workshop will explore the origins and evolution of Sardinian surnames and genealogical research techniques. The session includes a theoretical and a practical part: participants will be introduced to documentary sources, research methods and, in the practical part, the analysis of documents in Sardinian, Catalan, Castilian and Latin. They will be taught how to construct their own family tree.
Times and places
Oristano, Archbishop’s Seminary – Oct. 19, 4:30-7:30 p.m. Book here
Cagliari, State Archives – Nov. 22, 4-7 p.m. Book here
Nuoro, ISRE Costume Museum – Nov. 28, 4-7 p.m. Book here
Experiential Enogastronomic Workshops
The experiential gastronomy workshop is taught by Alessandra Guigoni, a cultural anthropologist specializing in food systems and local development. She holds a PhD from the University of Siena; she has been an adjunct lecturer at several universities in the cities of Cagliari, Sassari, Rome and Milan. She currently teaches at the IED. Author of numerous scientific publications, as a journalist she collaborates with several newspapers and radio and television stations. Her new book will be published in spring 2025.
Cheeses of Sardinia
Behind every cheese is a pasture of a different green under a different sky” Italo Calvino.
Reasoned and guided tasting of some cult dairy products of Sardinian tradition accompanied by anecdotes, bits of history and culture, quotations of literary passages. Con la partecipazione speciale di Claudio Lallai (Argiolas Formaggi).
Date and place: Nov. 9, Pbread Natural Bakery Cagliari, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Book here
Identity in a mug: beer from Sardinia!
Guided tasting of several types of Sardinian beer, elements of brewing history and culture that date back as far as the 19th century, well before Ichnusa was founded. Accompanied by sommelier Fabio Maggio and Mezzavia Brewery.
Date and location: Nov. 9, Pbread Natural Bakery Cagliari, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Book here
Sardinian breads, if 800 kinds seem few to you…
Guided tasting of breads of different types. For the occasion, some of Villaurbana’s most representative breads will be displayed in the hall and the meanings behind the decorations (little flowers, birds, etc.), shapes, with anecdotes about Sardinian bread rituals and myths will be explained.
Date and place: Nov. 30, Pbread Natural Bakery Cagliari, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Book here
Divine Spirit: Wines of Sardinia from Nuragic winemakers to today’s wineries
Telling the history and culture of Sardinian wines and grape varieties. Guided tasting with sommeliers Fabio Maggio and Roberto Pisano.
Date and place: Nov. 30, Pbread Natural Bakery Cagliari, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Book here
Grazia Deledda at the table: traditional Sardinian desserts.
Grazia Deledda embodied many different figures in her persona: as a scholar, ethnographer, traveler, successful writer; she was a forerunner of many ideas and suggestions, including that of a cuisine of memory and roots. Having emigrated to Rome to devote herself fully to writing by exploiting the channels and friendships of Italy’s capital city, she never forgot her roots, including her gastronomic ones. In her letters, in her writings, so many references to Nuoro’s childhood and youth food, before her expatriation to Rome and to Romagna (in Cervia). The tasting workshop of some iconic desserts and identity is accompanied by readings of Deleddian passages on the subject. Maurizio Serrenti, creator of Indoru, the first Sardinian dessert festival, will speak.
Date and place: Dec. 7, Pbread Natural Bakery Cagliari, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Book here
Historical-Artistic Workshop in Sardinian Language: “Plots of Oil”
Conducted by: Sabrina Tomasi, Alice Sardu and Erica Nonnis
The workshop is dedicated to the history of local olive-growing practice with a guided tour in Campidanese Sardinian at the ancient Bardi Oil Mill by Alice Sardu (Sardinian Language and Culture Office of the Municipality of Gonnosfanadiga), followed by the olive-themed artisan tailoring and reuse workshop, in Italian, by Erica Nonnis (Atmosferiche tailoring).
After the initial greetings and a brief introduction to the Italea Sardegna project, participants will immerse themselves in a late 19th-century atmosphere inside the former Bardi family oil mill and discover its history and operation, accompanied by Alice Sardu in her explanation in Sardinian. Following this, they will be guided by the skilled hands of Erica Nonnis in the making of a handcrafted item with reused material from olive-growing practice, with details related to the themes and words in Sardinian heard during the visit. Finally, participants will be able to take home the artifact they made.
Date and location: Nov. 16 3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. and Nov. 17 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m., Frantoio Bardi, Gonnosfanadiga (SU) Book here
Sabrina Tomasi is a member of Cumbidu ETS, the organization in charge of the national project “Italea” in Sardinia. She works as a research fellow at the University of Pisa, on European projects (Erasmus+, Horizon Europe) concerning educational tourism in rural areas, territorial marketing, action-research approaches for rural innovation based on collaboration within the community as well as innovative didactics for sustainability and entrepreneurship education. In associative contexts and on behalf of private organizations he designs and carries out cultural and local development initiatives.
Alice Sardu is a cultural worker in Sardinian language and culture at the municipalities of Gonnosfanadiga and Arbus. She is in charge of translations of official acts, Sardinian language teaching and workshop activities at schools and libraries, Sardinian language support at public events and cultural initiatives by local associations and public bodies, as well as consulting for private citizens. Occasionally, she is also involved in event planning and organization, having obtained a regional qualification in this area.
Erica Nonnis opens in 2019 a creative space in the center of Gonnosfanadiga: Atmosferiche. Her tailoring workshop is a versatile, multidisciplinary and open space, designed as a place that can intrigue, fascinate and amaze: a touch of novelty that opens eyes and hearts wide, capable of inspiring and empowering people to embark on a more conscious lifestyle, creating fewer clothing products, made with greater care. Her mini collections find inspiration from her surroundings, she opts for practical and versatile designs, and prefers dead stock fabrics whenever possible.
Join the Roots Workshops with Italea Sardegna and discover the cultural riches of Sardinia. For more information and to reserve your spot, visit the Eventbrite links listed for each workshop.
