Discover Mamoiada: Masks, Archaeology and Wine

In Mamoiada, mask traditions, archaeology and wine offer different ways to discover the area. You can view the ritual figures and their portrayal in the museum, learn about archaeological remains, or explore wine and the trails through the hills. This lets you shape your stay around the subjects that interest you most.

Mamuthones, Issohadores and Carnival

The Museo delle Maschere Mediterranee compares the ritual arts of Barbagia with mask traditions from across the wider Mediterranean region. It displays complete masks and costumes of Mamoiada’s Mamuthones and Issohadores. A multimedia presentation on large screens conveys the community’s connection to the ritual of these figures. The museum thus presents both the local tradition and its broader Mediterranean context.

During Mamoiada’s Carnival, the Mamuthones and Issohadores appear at the Feast of Saint Anthony between January 16 and 17, on Carnival Sunday and on Shrove Tuesday. After dressing in their costumes, the Mamuthones parade through Mamoiada in groups of twelve and the Issohadores in groups of eight. The different group sizes are among the specific features of the ritual. As the annual programme may vary, check the current event dates before planning a trip specifically around it.

Archaeological Sites and Museums

The Museo dell'Archeologia e del Territorio di Mamoiada, or MATer for short, focuses on Mamoiada’s archaeological heritage. It documents menhirs, necropolises, nuraghi and settlements. Its interactive multimedia tour covers three themed rooms. The Istevéne necropolis consists of six man-made hypogea, locally known as Concheddas.

The Boeli stele, known as Sa Perda Pintà, also presents a distinctive archaeological feature: concentric circles surround a central cup mark. A straight incision cuts across the circles and ends in a hook-shaped extension; there are also 23 additional cup marks. The Mamoiada area has 32 nuraghi, including Arràilo. Together with traces of settlements and giants’ tombs, they mark the more fertile areas.

The Museo della Cultura e del Lavoro presents Mamoiada’s agropastoral society through traditional costumes. Styles, fabrics, accessories, decorations and colours illustrate social organisation, the hierarchies between social groups, and the roles of men and women. This perspective complements the archaeological evidence with a portrayal of social structures and how they are expressed through clothing.

Mamoiada’s museum system offers guided tours in Italian, English, French and Spanish. If you plan to take a tour, check the current arrangements and your preferred language in advance.

Trails Through the Hills

Former transhumance routes run through the hills around Mamoiada and are now used for trekking and mountain biking. Their former role as shepherds’ paths and their present-day use give these routes different points of reference: they connect a historic trail tradition with outdoor activities. As trail conditions may change, check the route’s condition before setting out.

Wine and Different Experiences

The “Mamoiada – Rinascere con il Vino” experience includes a tasting of three selected wines from local wineries. A winemaker or producer explains winemaking techniques through a first-hand account. If you want to make this tasting a definite part of your plans, check the current booking details in advance.

The Mamoiada Experience includes urban trekking routes that continue into excursions through vineyards, followed by wine tastings at a winery. Cantina Giuseppe Sedilesu is part of the Strada del Vino Cannonau. A tasting with an explanation directly from a producer and a format that combines trekking with vineyard excursions offer different ways to explore local wine.

Discover more destinations: Lollove, Ovodda, Mamone, Gavoi, Meana Sardo, Orosei, Sarule, Oliena.

For the broader travel overview: Nuoro.