In the May half-term, nineteen Year 12 students of Italian and Social and Cultural Anthropology enjoyed a wonderful trip to Sardinia, experiencing Sardinian nature, culture, history, traditions and food - accompanied by Ms Martucci and Ms Contini.

We started off by visiting the rescue centre for marine life in the Nora lagoon, west of Cagliari, where we were given the opportunity to learn a great deal about various species of marine creatures, such as sea cucumbers, starfish and various cetaceans. The highlight of this session was seeing real life sea turtles that had been rescued and were being cared for by the staff at the rescue centre - although this was also a reminder of how humans are negatively impacting these wonderful creatures, for example through plastic waste.

We then enjoyed a lovely, sunny afternoon on the beach, and swam in gorgeous turquoise waters!

The next day, we explored the city of Cagliari: our guide, an expert archaeologist, took us to see the underground Roman remains of streets and houses that were found accidentally under a church in 1999! We then went for a walking tour in Cagliari, learning all about the city’s origins and especially focussing on the fortification of the city in mediaeval times.

After a stop for lunch, we headed to the beach once again, to have a little swim at Poetto beach, with the backdrop of the Sella Del Diavolo (the Devil’s Saddle) - a very impressive rock formation.

The following day, we took a long bus ride to the heart of Sardinia, to learn all about the carnival traditions of Mamoiada, focussing specifically on the Mamuthones masks. We learnt about the important functions of these masks parading the streets in winter, on the day of Saint Anthony, to cast away evil spirits that would threaten the harvest, and also to ward off death and sorrow and look forward to spring. We visited the workshop of a mask maker, who explained in detail how masks are made and the importance of Mamuthones for the identity of the people of Mamoiada today.

In the afternoon, we moved to the nearby town of Orgosolo, famous for its mural paintings that express important messages of peace and social justice and refer to important historical events, such as the 1968 uprising by the local people against the construction of a NATO military base that would have taken away their lands (precious for pastures) and also international events such as the war in Iraq or Tien An Men square.

The next day we headed north towards Alghero, stopping by two very important prehistoric sites - the Necropolis of Bonorva and the impressive Nuraghe of Santu Antine. In both sites, we appreciated some buildings and burials dating back to 6000 years ago, and we reflected on how prehistoric humans had similar needs and belief systems to ours, such as customs relating to the afterlife, hierarchical structures, the need to belong etc. We then spent the afternoon in Alghero relaxing on the beach, at yet another stunning location.

We spent our last day exploring Alghero, learning about its history, from its founding by a noble family from Genoa to its conquest by the Catalans, and the importance of coral for the local economy. The highlight of this day was the visit to the spectacular Nettuno caves, and the boat ride there, again surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery.

It was a wonderful experience for both staff and students, and even though we came back extremely tired, we all feel incredibly enriched by this experience.

Students' comments:

As an anthropology student, I found this trip to not only be educational but also extremely fun and entertaining. Over the week, I got closer to my peers and my teachers, and I picked up several new Italian words; one would think I am bilingual. Overall, I really enjoyed the sun and warm temperatures. Furthermore, I was in awe of the beaches, they were so clear (thankfully there were no jellyfish)! I would love to visit Sardinia again in the future. It was an amazing experience 10/10.
Harleen         

The trip was such a good experience; not only did we learn lots which could be applied to anthropology, but it was also planned out very well so that we got lots of free time to enjoy ourselves with our friends and on the beaches. Sardinia was a great trip, and I'd recommend it to anyone who gets the opportunity to go.
Albert

It is so difficult to choose what the most enjoyable aspect of the trip was, as the whole trip was an amazing experience. The weather was absolutely perfect, so we had three days when we went to the beach, and it was gorgeous. I also really loved learning about the history of Sardinia and going to the centre for marine biology in Nora. Overall, it was a great trip where I got to know my classmates better and ate lots of delicious ice cream.  
Amélie

This trip was genuinely one of the best weeks of my life. I have made life-long memories and I have strengthened my friendships and independence. Sardinia is an amazing place and Miss Contini planned the best tour and showcased all the best parts of her homeland, and we all fell in love with it. I wouldn’t hesitate to go back and relive the memories over again, and I would recommend it to anyone, not only for the beautiful beaches, but for the history and unique culture.
Ella

Please click on the link here to view the Sardinia 2024 Photo Gallery.