The “EXTRAMUROS – The Middle Ages Beyond the Walls” festival opened yesterday in Masullas, the first traveling exhibition dedicated to the Sardinian Middle Ages, promoted by the Itinera Romanica Friends of the Romanesque Association, thanks to the contribution of the Fondazione di Sardegna . Its aim is to bring medieval history directly to the places that still preserve its traces today, such as churches, villages, landscapes, stones and living communities.

The initiative kicked off with an inaugural lecture by Association President Giuseppina Deligia , entitled "Sardinia in the Political Intrigues of the Medieval Mediterranean," which immediately clarified the spirit of the entire cultural initiative. "EXTRAMUROS was born from the desire to bring the Middle Ages out of specialized venues and return it to the territories, communities, and monuments that still preserve the memory of our history ," Deligia explained. " Medieval Sardinia was not an isolated reality, but a territory traversed by relationships, alliances, trade, and encounters that made it fully part of the Mediterranean ." The choice to begin in Masullas is no coincidence. "We chose Masullas as our first stop because it perfectly embodies the spirit of the festival," Deligia emphasized. "A small town that preserves an extraordinary heritage, often little-known, yet fundamental to understanding Sardinia's historical and cultural identity. These places are not peripheral, but authentic treasure troves of memory and heritage."

The project, which will run from May to October across various parts of the island, aims to be a unique model for historical dissemination. " With EXTRAMUROS, we want to build a model for cultural dissemination that combines historical research, community participation, and local development, through accessible languages and activities that bring together history, experiences, music, storytelling, and heritage," Deligia concluded. The festival's schedule is already packed and promising: after Masullas on May 15th and 17th, the festival will move to Tula from June 26th to 28th, then Samassi from July 10th to 12th, Bonorva from August 28th to 30th, Ozieri from September 11th to 13th, Ardara from October 2nd to 4th, and finally Tartalis from October 9th to 11th. Each stop will have a different thematic focus and will involve scholars, communicators, artists, historical groups, and industry professionals, with a program that ranges from academic meetings to guided tours, from concerts to craft workshops, and experiential moments open to adults and children alike.

This weekend's program in Masullas is already packed. Among the events scheduled are guided tours of the Church of San Leonardo and the I Cavalieri delle Colline Museum, educational workshops for children, activities including falconry, archery, medieval workshops, and, tonight, a concert by Arkon, a doom/heavy metal band that sings in the Sardinian language, closing out the first day with a captivating blend of ancient and contemporary.

Tomorrow's events, at 12:30 p.m., include a meeting with Rossana Martorelli, who will present her edited book, "At the Table in Sardinia in the Middle Ages." The book, as the editor herself noted, offers an intimate, everyday glimpse into medieval Sardinian civilization, through the flavors, rituals, and eating habits of an era often depicted only through war and power. " The table is an extraordinary mirror of society ," Martorelli commented. "Through what people ate, how they prepared it, and with whom they shared it, we can discern social hierarchies, trade routes, cultural influences, and even the religious devotion of an entire population. It is true, concrete history that belongs to everyone ."

EXTRAMUROS thus aims to become a fixture on the island's cultural scene: not a nostalgic reenactment, but a living, traveling tale of an island that has much to say about its past, and which chooses to tell it where that past still breathes.

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