Sassari: City History, Museums and Sardinian Everyday Life

A prominent place to view Sassari's more recent history is Piazza d'Italia. It was laid out from 1872 onwards as part of an architectural project, creating a monumental urban space in keeping with the new unified state. The Palazzo Ducale was built between 1775 and 1804 by don Antonio Manca, Marchese di Mores and Lord of Usini, after he had received the title Duca dell’Asinara. Both buildings reveal different facets of the city's heritage.

Older traces are visible in the medieval city wall. Its construction began in the first half of the 13th century; it comprised 36 crenellated towers. In the Museo Nazionale Sanna, Sardinian history is presented through artefacts spanning the period from prehistory to the modern era. The city fortifications and the museum thus represent two different approaches to Sassari's past.

The Museo Bande di Sassari is dedicated to old bridal, everyday and mourning dress from several areas of Sardinia, as well as typical Sardinian musical instruments. At the Pinacoteca Nazionale, you can view art in the former Collegio Canopoleno, a building constructed between the 16th and 17th centuries. Together, the two locations draw attention to clothing, sound, painting and historic architecture.

The Padiglione Tavolara provides a distinctive architectural accent. This work of modern architecture was created through a collaboration between the architect Ubaldo Badas from Cagliari and the artist Eugenio Tavolara from Sassari. The pavilion houses the most important public collection of Tavolara's works. It is located in the Giardini Pubblici of Sassari, in the first area between Viale Italia and Via Tavolara, and can be reached on foot from the city centre.

If you would like to get to know Sassari beyond its individual cultural sites, the cultural Rete Thàmus leads through the historic centre and extends to the cultural treasures of the surrounding area. InfoSassari supports the booking and organisation of guided tours at the sites belonging to this Rete Thàmus. This makes it possible to specifically explore the connection between the history of the city centre and the cultural destinations outside it.

The Parco di Monserrato is also useful for getting your bearings in Sassari. It can be reached by car and bus; the pedestrian entrance is on Via Budapest. Cordula, lamb's feet and Zimino represent the city's culinary side: these traditional dishes from Sassari are still served in the city's trattorias.

Sardinia's cultural diversity is ultimately showcased by La Cavalcata Sarda. It presents Sardinian traditional costumes, traditional goldsmithing, and the island's dance and musical heritage. Together with Sassari's museums, squares, historic walls and routes, this creates a destination where architecture, regional identity and culinary tradition meet in a variety of forms.

Discover more destinations

For further travel planning, you can also explore Mores, Nulvi, Banari, Platamona, Tottubella, Codrongianos, Alghero and Perfugas.

For the higher-level travel overview: Sassari.