The Earth Tour

In our Earth itinerary, we will discover the places, monuments, and historical and natural evidence that strongly link our region to the presence of man as much as the earth to life.

The earth has been considered, since the dawn of civilization, to be a mother in whose womb we – human beings, animals and plants – were all born and to which we will all return.

A tour of the Earth cannot miss, therefore, the Archaeological Museum of Cagliari, where statuettes depicting the Mother Goddess are kept.

Adored and evoked in the most ancient cults, the cult of the Mother Goddess was at the centre of megalithic constructions such as the tombs of the giants which, from a bird’s eye view resemble stylized bull heads, a masculine symbol of fertility and, viewed from the ground, the figure of a woman in labor. A perfect combination as human life originates in the union of the female and male elements. The same symbolism lays behind the domus de janas, Neolithic stone tombs carved from the rock, also included in our tour.

The path to discovery passes through the great buildings of the nuraghi and the holy wells. The latter were erected following the architectural principles of nuraghi, and hosted initiation rites and rituals related to fertility – of women, earth and livestock – where water was crucial.

During this itinerary we will also discover the remains of the people who, in the Neolithic, built the base upon which our civilization developed over the centuries: together we will visit some menhirs which are dotted across Sardinia. In fact, over seven hundred have been found, featuring both smooth faces and also carved with anthropomorphic or symbolic figures. Stuck in the ground, these perdas fittas (Sardinian for stuck stones), take on different symbolic and religious meanings and were used in propitiatory fertility rites.

The same earth is the basis for human nutrition and sustenance, and a circuit of events that celebrates the fruits of the earth involves different villages in the heart of Sardinia, which allows visitors to live unforgettable experiences of food, wine, crafts and unique natural landscapes.

A journey that also highlights the artistic flair of men and women capable of producing admirable works inspired by the earth.

Among these, the works of the artist Maria Lai stand out. A follower of the Arte Povera movement, she shifted from sculpture to textile art. Playing with wires and books, stones and bread, she has translated the archaic symbols and legends of Sardinian civilization into the language of contemporary art, creating complex and poetic works where man, as a spectator, participates in the definition of the work itself.

Community and sharing are emphasized when we participate in a cooking workshop to discover the secrets of the preparation of culurgiones, a very delicious ear-shaped pasta, stuffed with potatoes and pecorino cheese. Traditionally prepared at the end of the wheat harvest, they were offered as a sign of gratitude towards to the earth, dear friends and relatives.

Finally, we will hike to the famous cliff-like rock formations of the so-called Tacchi (Heels) and stop at the magical and fabulous pebble beaches of Mari Pintau and Cala Goloritzé.