Sardinia
Sardinia (Sardigna, Sardinna or Sardinnia) in the Sardinian language; Sardegna in Italian, is an island in the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy, France and Tunisia, south of Corsica.
Sardinia has an area of 24,090 km2 and a population of 1.65 million. It was called "Ichnusa" by Phoenicians and "Sandalyon" by Greeks because of its shape, recalling a footprint.
Sardinia is an autonomous region of Italy. The regional capital is Cagliari. The region is divided into four provinces: Cagliari, Sassari, Nuoro and Oristano; another four provinces have been created in 2001: Olbia-Tempio, Ogliastra, Sulcis-Iglesiente and Medio Campidano), to enter effect during this decade.
Most important towns (with local names):
- Cagliari, Casteddu(ab. 250,000 inh.),
- Sassari, Tathari (ab. 120,000 inh.),
- Nuoro, Nugoro,
- Oristano, Aristanis,
- Olbia, Terranoa,
- Tempio Pausania, Tempiu,
- Porto Torres, Poltu Torra,
- Alghero, L'Alguer (catalan)
- Ozieri, Othieri,
- Iglesias, Iglesias,
- Carbonia, Crabonia,
- Quartu Sant’Elena, Quartu Santa Aleni,
Other towns and villages:
- La Maddalena, A Maddalena
- Arzachena, Alzachena
- Castelsardo, Casteddu Saldu
- San Teodoro, Santu Tiadoru
- Posada, Pasata
- Siniscola, Thiniscole
- Macomer, Maccummele
- Bosa, Bosa
- Gavoi, Gaboi
- Lanusei, Lanusei
- Selargius, Cedraxius
The island contains numerous extraordinary tourist areas, including the Costa Smeralda and Gennargentu.
The climate is mainly mediterranean, with warm Spring and Fall, hot Summer, mild Winter.
The island is a precious natural resource, having protected thousands of rare animal and vegetal species.
In its territory are several gold and silver mines.
Sardinia's history is very ancient. In 1979 human remains were found that were dated to 150,000 BC. In Prehistory Sardinia's inhabitants developed a trade in obsidian, a stone used for the production of the first rough tools, and this activity brought Sardinians into contact with most of the Mediterranean peoples.
In the age from Neolithic to the Roman Empire, the Nuragic civilisation took shape on the island. Still today, more than 7,000 Nuraghe survive. It is speculated that ancient Sardinia was home to the mysterious Shardana people.
A Roman and later Byzantine province, the island was divided from the 9th to 12th century among four independent Giudicati, which fell to the kingdom of [{Aragon]] in 1323-1409: the giudicato of Arborea was the last to fall.
In 1720 Sardinia became an independent kingdom under the House of Savoia, rulers of Piedmont. At the time of Italian reunification in 1860, the King of Sardinia became King of Italy. See /History.
The language of Sardinia is Sardinian, a Romance language with obscure origins in phoenician, Etruscan and oriental roots.
It has been significantly supplanted by Italian for official purposes, and it is completely unknown by some youth groups, specially in lower census of Cagliari, while it's still the main national language (Sardinians identify themselves as a people and as a nation) in facts.
Sardinia's currency is now the Euro (as a part of Italy), but Sardinians still unofficially refer to su Francu (or loc."su Pidzu"); 1 francu=1,000 Former Italian Liras.
Official regional website (in Italian): [1]