Sardegna (Sardinia) is an island of breath-taking beauty and extraordinary natural and cultural significance. Its giant Neolithic menhirs and stone temples eventually gave way to the massive nuraghe (circular fortresses), mysterious sacred wells, and tumulus tombs of the Bronze Age. Phoenician, Greek and Roman influences followed over centuries. This tour of Sardegna’s history will also include invaluable tips for the traveller on the island’s culture, cuisine and sights.

DELIVERY MODE

• Face-to-Face

SUGGESTED READING

• Dillon, P., 2012, Walking in Sardinia: 50 Walks in Sardinia’s Mountains, Cicerone Press – excellent book with lots of maps and photos of the routes taken.
• Dyson, L. and Rowland, Jr., R.J., 2007, Shepherds, Sailors, and Conquerors: Archaeology and History in Sardinia from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages, UPenn Museum of Archaeology – covers lots of territory and is available through websites such as Fishpond.com, Amazon.com, Booktopia etc.
• Lawrence, D.H., 1923, Sea and Sardinia, Cambridge – this classic has been reprinted many times and I recently bought a copy second hand for a few dollars. It is also available as an audio book and on Kindle. It is a charming and fascinating look into the island’s life and people which still has relevance today.
• Webster, G.S., 1996, A Prehistory of Sardinia 2300-500BC, Sheffield

COURSE OUTLINE

• Introduction to the geography and natural history of Sardinia
• Sardinia in the Neolithic Era
• Nuraghic Sardinia – a look at the stunning Bronze Age culture of the island – temples, forts, sacred wells, and habitation sites
• Greeks, Phoenicians and Carthaginians
• Roman Sardegna
• Significant Paleo Roman and Medieval Churches, ancient traditions and festivals which survive into the modern era.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Have a good basic knowledge of Sardinian geography and natural history and the locations of some of the island’s most beautiful natural sites
2. Understand the chronology of the island’s history from the Neolithic up to Roman times with a brief overview of more modern periods
3. Plan a trip to Sardinia with a view to seeing its most significant monuments and ancient sites from the Neolithic to the Roman periods
4. Know where the most significant collections of ancient Sardegnan artefacts can be found throughout the island
5. Get a basic idea of the specialities of Sardinian cuisine and some of the many intriguing and colourful local festivals