Princess Maria Letizia, Duchess of Aosta

What people wore

Costumes as social and marital indicators

Sardinian folk costumes acted as indicators of social status, with wealth signaled by the quality and dye of the fabric, the number of buttons, or the type of metal used for finger rings. Marital status was often signaled by the color of a dress, the type of hairstyle, or a man's vest color.

Getting around

Maritime travel to Sardinia

Steamers connecting Genoa to Sardinia typically took 24 to 26 hours to reach Porto Torres, and passengers landing in Cagliari were not subject to custom-house or police visits.

At the table

Daily Meals Based on Soup and Bread

Ordinary families typically relied on a single daily meal, often a soup (minestra) made of vegetables, potatoes, lard, or salted pork, frequently served with bread. For many, meat was an exceptional treat reserved for Sundays, holidays, or celebrations like weddings.

Music

Traditional Sardinian musical instruments

In southern Sardinia, musicians used the launeddas, an ancient triple clarinet, while northern and central regions favored the diatonic accordion known as sunettu.

Daily life

Seasonal hamlet schools for children

Children in mountain regions often attended hamlet schools during the winter season, which lasted only three to five months to accommodate the rural economy. These schools were frequently financed by private family donations and could even reduce lessons to two-and-a-half hours daily in areas with low financial capacity.