Inside Sardinia: Nuraghe Santa Sabina

Posted on November 16 by Jennifer Avventura

Around every corner lies a medieval surprise and when we passed Nuraghe Santa Sabina we just had to stop and admire the ancient architecture and beauty.

Unfortunately, we were there in the off-season and the office was closed but that didn’t stop us from stretching our legs, breathing the fresh mountain air and investigating this fabulous structure, albeit from afar.

Nuraghe Santa Sabina is in the small rural town of Silanus in the province of Nuoro. This structure is the perfect example of the ancient Bronze Age stone towers (nuraghe) that dot the island of Sardinia. In front of the nuraghe is a stunning Byzantine style church.

The next time I’m in town a full investigation into this medieval church and nuraghe is a must!

Where to find Nuraghe Santa Sabina?

The Nuraghi’s Island (angelafloris.wordpress.com)
Nuraghe and Church of Santa Sabina (visitarelasardegna.com)

© My Sardinian Life/Jennifer Avventura. All rights reserved 2010-2013. All pictures, unless otherwise stated, are property of My Sardinian Life. Do not use without written permission.

What detours do you take when traveling the open road?

Weekly Photo Challenge: Habit

Posted on November 10 by Jennifer Avventura

This weeks weekly photo challenge is habit, and there is no better place in the world where the people still abide by the same habits or rituals as they did hundreds of years ago, like they do here in Sardinia.

This hard-working man from Tonara is making a wooden platter in the shape of Sardinia to sell or give away as gifts to friends. For millenia the islanders have used natural resources from the surrounding area to make stunning hand-crafted items that will last a lifetime.

This is my response to the weekly photo challenge: habit.

Do you prefer to buy your gifts from small independent business?

© My Sardinian Life/Jennifer Avventura. All rights reserved 2010-2013. All pictures, unless otherwise stated, are property of My Sardinian Life. Do not use without written permission.

Inside the heart of Sardinia – Toneri, Tonara (laavventura.wordpress.com)
A Snapshot from Tonara, Sardinia (laavventura.wordpress.com)
Tantalizing Torrone from Tonara (laavventura.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Habit (windagainstcurrent.com)
weekly photo challenge : habit (plaridel.wordpress.com)

Snapshots: Memories from Mamoiada

Posted on November 6 by Jennifer Avventura

Mamoiada is a small rural town in the province of Nuoro and is famous for its carnival held in February. I recently had the pleasure of visiting this mountain town and it held up to my expectations. Follow me on a photographic journey to the heart of Sardinia – Mamoiada.

View of Mamoiada from the watch tower at Cantina Puggioni Giampietro.

Tzilleri = Bar

Beautiful old alleys and doorways.

Typical bread for that special day.

Patience and care goes into making this typical bread from Mamoiada.

Roast Pecora

Roasting chestnuts.

Hand-crafted masks.

Masks of the Mamuthones.

The most comical guy I’ve met in a long time at Mamoiada.

Jennifer Avventura My Sardinian Life Mamoiada (3)

Tappas in Mamujada 2013

I’d like to personally thank the Mamoiadini for throwing such a BIG fabulous festival at the Tappas in Mamujada. From what I read there were about 25,000 people in attendance this past Sunday. Keep up the great work. I look forward to a return visit.

© My Sardinian Life/Jennifer Avventura. All rights reserved 2010-2013. All pictures, unless otherwise stated, are property of My Sardinian Life. Do not use without written permission.

Video: Mamuthones at Tappas in Mamujada

Posted on November 5 by Jennifer Avventura

A short video of the Mamuthones from Mamoiada at the Tappas in Mamujada. My video taking skills aren’t the best and I wasn’t in the best place to capture the Issohadores. Here’s a little sneak peek into the mysterious Mamuthones.

Have you seen the ritual dance from the Mamuthones?

Mystical Mamuthones from Mamoiada

Posted on November 5 by Jennifer Avventura

The mystical Mamuthones from Mamoiada have always stirred my soul and made me question the origin of their existence. I have attended festivals in Sassari and Olbia where the Mamuthones preformed before the inquisitive public, but I had never witnessed their ritual dance in their town, on their turf, until this past Sunday when I attended Tappas in Mamujada. There is something so raw and connected to nature in their dance that pulls me in, curious, wanting to know more. So I went searching …

Mural in Mamoiada

The Mamuthone legacy is shrouded in secrecy Continue reading →

Eerie Food from Sardinia – Casu Marzu

Posted on November 4 by Jennifer Avventura

Casu Marzu is eerie, very, very eerie. It’s a pungent cheese made from sheep milk and is left outside, uncovered, to rot. Tiny cheese flies infest the cheesy block and lay their off-spring, billions of small transparent maggots. The larvae feed on the cheese, thus causing fermentation and allowing the casu marzu to fully decompose into an eerie, stinky, creamy and highly sought after delicacy from the mountains of Sardinia. The moment I saw the sign above the door I knew what I had to do. Continue reading →

An Infinite Deep Look at Traditional Costumes from Tonara, Sardinia

Posted on October 11 by Jennifer Avventura

Sardinia, Italy is a magical island filled with mysterious charm that is proud to show an infinite detail to each costume representing each town on the island. The island women have for centuries hand stitched their stunning traditional garb to the finest deep detail. Follow me on a photo montage of Sardinia’s traditional costume from Tonara.

Traditional Dress from Tonara, Sardinia

Woman’s Dress from Tonara

Looking deep at the infinite detail

Charms and Jewels from Tonara

Deep into handmade detail

Infinite timeless colours

Striking deep details

Detail of the finest caliber on hand stitched dress

Colourful woven detail on a traditional head scarf

This elderly woman just left a church mass.

This is my response to two photo challenges:

Travel Theme: Deep
Weekly Photo Challenge: Infinite

Click on any of the links above to join in the fun.

Tantalizing Torrone from Tonara (laavventura.wordpress.com)
Inside the heart of Sardinia – Toneri, Tonara (laavventura.wordpress.com)

Inside Sardinia: Lake Cucchinadorza

Posted on October 9 by Jennifer Avventura

Lake Cucchinadorza in the province of Nuoro, sits at the foot of the Gennargentu mountain range and offers stunning views of the three surrounding towns: Ollolai, Ovodda and Teti.

Nestled deep in the valley, Lake Cucchinadorza provides the nature-lover in you with a plethora of wildlife, hiking & horseback trails and a staggering panorama of the neighbouring towns.

Inside the heart of Sardinia – Toneri, Tonara (laavventura.wordpress.com)
I want to live in Sardinia – answering your questions (laavventura.wordpress.com)

Tantalizing Torrone from Tonara

Posted on October 8 by Jennifer Avventura

Torrone from Tonara is Sardinia’s supreme sweet; made exclusively with local honey, egg whites and almonds. It is the first-rate nougat bar that the islanders reach for to satisfy their sweet tooth. Every corner of the island knows the best torrone comes from Tonara.

This past weekend I was fortunate enough to drive 200 kilometers to the heart of Sardinia. I roamed ancient streets and grazed on the abundant world-class torrone as locals busied themselves preparing the longest torrone in Sardinia, and they did it! 200 glorious meters stretched and curved along the streets of Tonara.

Traditionally torrone was hand mixed using a long wooden rod and taking up to three hours for the ingredients to harden. Today, machines have taken the place of hard labor but the result is still the same – a lasting sweetness that you can only find in Sardinia’s heart.

Continue reading →

Inside the heart of Sardinia – Toneri, Tonara

Posted on October 7 by Jennifer Avventura

Tonara by Jennifer Avventura My Sardinian Life I caught the bus early Saturday morning to meet up with a friend in Sassari. We filled the car with an expensive tank of gas and headed south down SS131 towards the elusive province of Barbagia in the heart of Sardinia. We headed to an ‘open-house’ in the ancient neighbourhood of Toneri, Tonara in the province of Nuoro.

It is here, in the heart of Sardinia, where you can immerse yourself in a world of historical flavours, ancient traditions, narrow alleyways and spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. It’s also here where they make the world-famous torrone but I’m saving that juicy, delicious bit for another post.