National archaeological museum · Sassari, Sardinia

Giovanni Antonio Sanna National Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum

The Giovanni Antonio Sanna National Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum is the principal museum of Sassari, the second-largest city of Sardinia. It gathers archaeological and ethnographic collections documenting the long history of the island and its territory. The museum takes its name from Giovanni Antonio Sanna, whose collection helped form its early holdings.

At a glance

Type: National archaeological and ethnographic museum
Period: Collections spanning prehistory to the modern era
Style: Museum institution
Location: Sassari, Sardinia, Italy

Overview

Located in Sassari, one of the oldest cities of Sardinia, the museum is dedicated to the archaeology and ethnography of the island. Its galleries present finds and material culture from across Sardinian history. Sassari, the island's second-largest city, holds a considerable collection of art and heritage.

History

The museum is named after Giovanni Antonio Sanna, an industrialist and collector whose materials contributed to its foundation. Over time it grew into a national institution covering the archaeology of Sardinia. The collections were assembled to document the island's ancient and traditional cultures.

What you see

The displays combine archaeological finds with ethnographic material. Visitors can expect objects illustrating Sardinia's prehistoric and later civilisations, alongside items reflecting traditional island life. The arrangement guides visitors through the long sweep of regional history.

Cultural significance

As a national museum, it is a key reference point for the study of Sardinian archaeology and culture. It preserves and presents material essential to understanding the heritage of the island.

Practical information

The museum is located in central Sassari. For opening hours, tickets and current exhibitions, check the official website.

Getting there

Sassari is reachable by train and bus, and by road from across northern Sardinia, with Alghero airport nearby. The museum lies within the city, accessible on foot from the centre.

Sources & resources

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Historical events at this place (1)

2021 Sulle tracce di Clemente

It is the main museum institution in central-northern Sardinia, due to the size and importance of its collections. Established in 1878 as the Royal Antiques Museum, in 1931 it became the &ldquo;Royal Museum of Antiquities and Art G.A. Sanna &quot;, finding a suitable exhibition venue in a purpose-built building.



Over the years, other private collections (Chessa, Dess&igrave;, Clemente etc.) and the contribution of materials resulting from the excavations carried out by the local Superintendency were added to the donation of the archaeological and historical-artistic collections of the senator and entrepreneur from Sassari.



The need for new spaces led to the construction of new pavilions and in 1973 the museum was reopened to the public with a new layout. In recent years, the cultural offer has significantly expanded: in 2000 the medieval and modern section was inaugurated and in 2011, after more than twenty years of closure, due to problems of degradation of the materials, the ethnographic section was reopened.



The museum is currently divided into two sections, archaeological and ethnographic. The archaeological section traces the history of the territories of the provinces of Sassari, Nuoro, Gallura and Ogliastra starting from the Lower Paleolithic (500,000 years BC) up to the 18th century through the phases of prehistory, the Nuragic, Phoenician, Punic, Roman, medieval and modern.



The chronological exhibition alternates with the topographical one, which explores sites and contexts of particular importance (the sanctuary of Monte d&#39;Accoddi, the pre-Nuragic hypogeal tombs, the city of Turris Libisonis). The route is enriched by useful educational aids including models, casts of monuments and a hologram of the architectural phases of the sanctuary of Monte d&#39;Accoddi.



The ethnographic section includes a collection of Sardinian demo-ethnographic objects which is the oldest of its kind on the island. It is made up of traditional fabrics, jewels, baskets, clothes and furnishings from the last three centuries, mostly belonging to the Clemente collection.



Pending the expansion of the exhibition spaces, only one room has been set up for now, dedicated to traditional Sardinian clothing (second half of the nineteenth century - first half of the twentieth century), sorted by geographical area.

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