Mamuthones in Mamoiada

A Mamuthone at the Mamoiada carnival

Carnival is celebrated all over Sardinia, and each region celebrates it differently. By far the most authentically Sardinian carnival is the one held in the small town of Mamoiada in the Sardinian province of Nuoro.

The Mamoiada carnival is famous for its "Mamuthones" and "Issohadores". The Mamuthones are intimidating looking characters; locals dress in wooden masks, black sheepskins and cow bells for the transformation from man to beast. They never speak, but as they parade through the streets they perform a slow stomping dance which makes the bells the wear on their backs ring. The "Issohadores" are lighter, more frivolous characters dressed in red, white and black who dance through the streets and lasso the prettiest local women. Historically, they would also capture the local landowners who would then invite the whole group into their home and provide them with food and wine.
Unlike the carnival festivities in Bosa which are characterised by wild street parties, the carnival in Mamoiada is a more serious, ritualised affair rooted strongly in local traditions.



Micro Issohadores in Mamoiada

We were lucky enough to find the youngest of only seven local residents who still hand carve the traditional Mamuthone masks; he's passionate about his town and his traditions and was happy to spend time explaining the ceremony to us. It seems that the true origins are lost in the mists of time, something that is sadly not unusual for a small town where stories have been passed down orally and only written down relatively recently.

One school of thought has the Mamuthones representing the shepherds of Barbagia (the mountains of Sardinia) and the Issohadores as the Saracen invaders who tried and failed to conquer the area. Others say it's a rite designed to ward off evil spirits and ensure good harvests, and there are those who say the Mamuthones represent bulls and the Issohadores are there to tame and domesticate them. It's also been said that the Mamuthones in their heavy sheepskins represent the winter giving way to the lighter, more cheerful springtime. One thing everybody does seem to agree on however is that the traditions of Mamuthones and Issohadores is an ancient one, dating back hundreds and maybe even thousands of years.

Until as late as the 1990's, the Mamuthone tradition was a purely local event, unknown to outsiders and the event has changed somewhat over the last 20 years due to tourists flocking to the tiny town both from other areas of Sardinia and abroad to witness it first hand. It's still an amazing insight into the culture, history and traditions of the region and very worth a visit.

If this has inspired you to visit Sardinia for yourself, check out our collection of luxury self-catering villas on the island

Fun Facts About Sardinia

We think Sardinia is one of the most fascinating places on Earth with a rich culture and history.

Just for fun, here are a few interesting facts about the island of Sardinia that we just love. We hope you like them too... they'll come in handy for impressing fellow holidaymakers over dinner!

Sardinia's coastline (1,850km) makes up over a quarter of the entire Italian coast

Sardinia enjoys an average of 135 days of sunshine every year

Geologically speaking, Sardinia is one of the most ancient bodies of land in Europe being 500 million years old

A growing number of scholars believe that Sardinia is actually the site of the Lost City of Atlantis.

Sardinia may be small, but it has it's own language which varies drastically from one area to the next. The Sard language is based on Latin but still bears the influence of the ancient languages of the Nuraghic period (such as the word Nuraghe itself) as well as smatterings of Catalan, Corsican, Arabic, Phonecian and Genoese... legacies left by the island's many invaders.

When Ringo Starr visited Sardinia in 1968 on Peter Sellers' boat, he was served octopus for lunch by the captain. The resulting conversation between the two men was the inspiration behind The Beatles song "Octopus's Garden"

The English phrase "Sardonic grin" comes from the effect of a toxic local herb which causes convulsive laughter in its victims.

Sardinia's inhabitants have the highest percentage of people over the age of 100 in the world (22 centenarians per 100,000 inhabitants)... maybe down to the fantastic diet and unpolluted air? It's no coincidence that the traditional Sardinian greeting is "A kent'annos" (may you live to 100).

The tiny island of Asinara off the coast of Sardinia is home to a colony of 250 miniature albino donkeys and, according to the 2001 census, just one man. The island of Tavolara is also worth a mention as being officially a kingdom... The current monarch actually owns a restaurant on the island but proudly bears the regal title given to his ancestors in 1848

Sardinia is the Mediterranean's second largest island after Sicily. It's also the third biggest region in Italy (after Sicily and Piedmont) but due to the fact that the interior of the island is mainly uninhabited, it ranks only 11th according to population size.

About 10 million tourists visit the island every year.

25% of Sardinia (600,000 hectares) has been designated as national parkland or wildlife reserves.

Sardinia's original name (dating from 1500BC) was Ichnusa. This comes from combining the word "island" ("nusa") with "Hyskos" after the tribe who rose to power in the 17th century BC and ruled areas of Egypt before invading Sardinia.

Sardinia has over 7,000 prehistoric archaeological sites dating from before 1,000BC.

A culinary speciality unique to Sardinia is "casu marzu" cheese which contains live maggots... and yes, you guessed it, it's considered a potent aphrodisiac by the locals.

Sardinia is the only region of Italy which doesn't have a motorway; an indication as to the pace of life here perhaps?

The world-famous internet company, Tiscali was founded in Sardinia and is still based in Cagliari. The company is named after a 2,000 year old nuraghic village on the island.

Yes, the word "sardines" does come from Sardinia, although sadly stocks of the fish have been depleted by overfishing.

If you have any other fascinating facts about Sardinia, we'd love to hear them! If this has inspired you to find out more about the island, just contact us for luxury Sardinian holiday villas.

February Sunshine in Sardinia

When people think of Sardinia, they tend to think of the summer holidays, but it really is an all year round destination.



Cala Giunco beach in Villasimius

Right now, the temperature is steady at around 25 degrees centigrade and has been for weeks. The sky is bright, bright blue, the spring flowers and blossom are out and we think the island is at it's very best between now and May.

We spent the weekend out in the Villasimius and Costa Rei area, wandering along miles of sandy white beaches without a single footprint on them, photographing flamingos and searching for the wild asparagus which is in season right now. The best way to get to know the island is just to hop in the car and drive... turn down any interesting track that you like the look of and you'll always be pleasantly surprised. We found a friendly shepherd who allowed us to wander over his land (it's always polite to ask permission) and who told us where to find a nuraghe (prehistoric stone monument) and the remains of a prehistoric settlement hidden in the bushes. He'd built a wall and a beautiful wooden entrance gate around them, and we loved seeing the gate to nowhere right in the middle of the countryside.

The gateway in the middle of the field, guarding the hidden remains of a prehistoric settlement

The friendly shepherd and his sheep

The wild asparagus we picked on our day out. Absolutely delicious!

If this has inspired you to get to know the area yourself check out two of our favourite villas in the area.

Villa Shardana in the Costa Rei, sleeps 4
www.thesardiniavillacollection.com/villa-shardana







Villa Arrubia in Villasimius, sleeps 14
www.thesardiniavillacollection.com/villa-arrubia

Villa of the Month - Villa Orchidea

Although most of Sardinia is very laid back and relaxed holiday destination, the Costa Smeralda and especially Porto Cervo are famous the world over for being attracting the rich and famous. Gwyneth Paltrow, Steven Spielberg, Richard Gere, Naomi Campbell, Rihanna, Paris Hilton and just about every footballer you care to think are just a few of those who spent their summer holidays here last year.

So if you're really looking for a taste of the Sardinian high life, Villa Orchidea is the property for you. We do try not to have favorites, but this villa has it all; breathtaking views, opulent furnishings, gorgeous gardens and total privacy, all within a stones-throw of the boutiques and nightlife of Porto Cervo.

Set between Cala di Volpe and the famous Pevero golf course, the location just doesn't get any better than this; you're right in the heart of one of the Mediterranean's most exclusive spots. Chill out by the pool and enjoy the views over the countryside to the blue, blue Mediterranean sea. The gorgeous Hotel Cala di Volpe (one of the most expensive in the world), designed by the godfather of Sardinian architecture, Couelle, is far below you and completes the unique views.

Inside, the décor is divine; quirky ornaments, colorful coffee-table books and world globes adorn every corner of the villa and the overall feel is of effortless elegance. Each of the four bedroom suites are individually and tastefully decorated, whilst the living and dining areas are the essence of taste and charm.

The interiors and exteriors of the property blend seamlessly into each other thanks to the full-length glass doors in almost every room. The mature gardens are immaculately maintained and full of exotic plants such as bougainvillea, bamboo, Bird of Paradise, banana trees and olives. Due to the privileged hillside location, Villa Orchidea is a secluded property and guests will find the tranquil location totally relaxing.

As well as the private swimming pool, guests can relax on the rooftop solarium; the perfect place to enjoy sunset aperitivi whilst lounging in the jacuzzi. The covered outdoor living and dining area is furnished with comfy white sofas so you can chill out while dinner sizzles away on the huge barbeque.

To find out more about Villa Orchidea, click here

Or to contact us and start making your holiday dreams a reality, just click on this link; we're looking forward to hearing from you!

Traveling to Sardinia with Children?

Here at The Sardinia Villa Collection, we know that parents traveling with children of any age can often need a little helping hand to really be able to relax and unwind whilst on holiday. We aim to be the most family-friendly villa company on the island so we're on hand to help in any way we can.

We have a full range of equipment available to hire for your Sardinia villa holiday including:

• Cots
• Highchairs
• Bumbos
• Bottle sterilisers
• Baby monitors
• Child gates
• Bed rails
• Toys
• Baby baths
• Prams and buggies
• Children's DVD's
• An X-box with a selection of games

We can also stock your villa with baby food and diapers before your arrival to help avoid those pesky baggage allowances on some airlines and if your baby is used to a certain brand or product we'll do our best to locate it on island for you or help you to arrange to have supplies couriered over and ready in your villa on your arrival.
In most locations we also have trusted English speaking babysitters on hand to give you a little time to enjoy a long, leisurely dinner or aperitivo.
We know all of our villas intimately and are more than happy to answer all your questions on each property to ensure you book the right Sardinia holiday for you and your family.
Want to find out more about what we can do for you? Just ask us to find out how we can help!

Welcome to The Sardinia Villa Collection

After two fabulous seasons here in Sardinia, we thought it was about time we set up a blog for ourselves!

The Sardinia Villa Collection is dedicated to searching out the very best properties on the island of Sardinia; whether you are after a cute little apartment for a long weekend or one of our VIP villas, we've got the right property for you.

Our secret weapon, the thing that makes us stand out from the rest is a little thing we like to call "the mum test". Sound a little odd? Not really, it just means that when we go to visit each new villa with a view to taking it onto our books, the single most important criteria we apply is "would I be happy booking this house for my mum's holiday?".

Simple really... this is why we don't offer bobbly nylon sheets, dried flower arrangements, dodgy bathroom suites or houses that just feel a little shabby. All of our properties, whether a quirky mediaeval townhouse crammed with antiques, a converted lighthouse with the most luxurious furnishings imaginable or a sleek, modern villa with incomparable sea views are all the very best of their class. The decor is always chic, the gardens immaculate, the staff friendly and helpful and they are, without exception places our mums (the fiercest critics known to man) would love to stay... so we just know you'll love them too!

Check out our website, and we promise we'll keep you updated via our blog on our newest additions and special offers. We hope to see you here in Sardinia soon!
http://www.thesardiniavillacollection.com/

Best wishes,
The Sardinia Villa Collection team