Longonsardo Tower

The Tower of Longonsardo, located on a promontory in Santa Teresa Gallura, represents an important testament to the coastal defense system of Sardinia under Spanish rule. It was built during the reign of Philip II, following the destruction of the Longonsardo castle around 1423, which left the coast exposed to attacks by corsairs and smugglers. In 1578, the Spanish viceroy of Sardinia, in agreement with the king, initiated a defense plan that included a circuit of towers along the Sardinian coasts, including the Longonsardo tower, which was completed and operational by 1599.
The tower is a massive granite building, with a diameter of 19 meters, a height of 11 meters, and an area of 285 square meters. Its structure included three internal compartments and a central column that supported the vault, while a carved basin collected rainwater for the garrison. The access door, without an external staircase, was located 6 meters above the ground on the side opposite the sea. An internal spiral staircase led to the top, where a low wall with loopholes provided protection and visibility, allowing the use of light weapons for coastal control.
The tower was an important defensive outpost, guarded by an “alcaide” and four dragoons detached from Tempio Pausania. In 1658, it resisted a Barbary attack and was subsequently reinforced. With the Treaty of London in 1720, Sardinia passed to the Savoy, who continued to use it for defensive purposes. During the island’s revolutionary decade, in 1802, it was the scene of an attack led by Francesco Sanna Corda, a follower of the exiled Giommaria Angioy.
Captain Pietro Francesco Maria Magnon, assessing the strategic importance of the area, proposed the creation of a new settlement, which led to the foundation of Santa Teresa Gallura in 1808 by decree of Victor Emmanuel I.

Via Bechi, 07028 Santa Teresa Gallura SS

n/a

+39 3498347698

Free visit with Longonsardo Tower brochure
Free for children from 0 to 3 years old
Children from 4 to 11 years old € 1.50
12 years and older € 2.50
Longonsardo Tower audio guide (by reservation)
Free for children from 0 to 3 years old
Children from 4 to 11 years old € 2.50
12 years and older € 5.00

from April 1 to October 31
every day
10:00 AM-1:00 PM / 3:30 PM-5:30 PM
From November 1 to March 31 CLOSED

30 min

The production of Aggius carpets has been a vital economic resource since the 19th century. In 1927, Prof. Cannas founded the first weaving school to preserve this precious tradition. Local artisan workshops have continued to produce these carpets without interruption, passing down the art from generation to generation.

Aggius carpets are renowned for their vibrant colors and distinctive decorations, creating a sort of “textile painting”. The traditional colors used are yellow, red, natural black, purple, green, light blue, burgundy, white, and gray.

In Aggius, two types of weaving are practiced: the “soprariccio”, known in the rest of Sardinia as “pibiones”, which uses a loom with four heddles and four pedals, and the “a l’antiga” technique, with two heddles and two pedals. The warp is made of cotton. The weaving style, known as “a dati”, is characterized by a series of horizontal stripes separated by bands of different colors, called “pommu”.

Among the other main types of carpets, we find “lu saccu a ciai”, considered the simplest carpet, formerly used as a blanket, and the carpet with continuous design. The carpets are made of linen and carded wool. The combination of traditional materials and techniques makes each carpet unique, celebrating the rich cultural and artistic heritage of Aggius, appreciated both in Sardinia and abroad.

Traditional clothing represents one of the most effective symbols of cultural belonging, capable of clearly delineating collective, regional, and national identities. In the context of traditions, clothing had a social communication function, making immediately recognizable the region of origin, sex, age, marital status, and role of each community member.

A significant example is the “camisgiòla” or little jacket, a female garment specially prepared for marriage and subsequently used on all occasions that required elegant attire.

The camisgiòla was made with heavy fabrics such as orbace, cloth, and velvet (strictly red in color), enriched with silver lace and lined with high-quality brocade.

The front part of the jacket was reduced to highlight the shirt and bodice and was closed with two laces, while the sleeves, long to the wrist, had large longitudinal openings from the armpit to the forearm, through which the wide sleeves of the shirts protruded. On the outer part of the sleeves, along the forearm, fake buttonholes were sewn from which ten burnished silver buttons hung. This detailed closure system not only added a decorative element to the garment but also reflected the craftsmanship and attention to detail characteristic of traditional clothing.

Museum of Banditry

The Museum of Banditry aims to conduct research on the material testimonies of man and his environment: it acquires them, preserves them, communicates them, and above all exhibits them for the purposes of study, education, and enjoyment. Without running the risk of mythologizing the figure of the outlaw and exalting his deeds, the museum’s objective is rather to spread positive values for the construction of a mentality that favors the affirmation of legality and public morality at every level. In a territory like Gallura, which was the protagonist of the banditry phenomenon for about three centuries, this cultural center fits perfectly, offering visitors and residents an overview of documents, photos, films, objects, and testimonies of the past, but above all trying to stimulate reflections on a future to be built together.

MUSEUMS OF THE
TERRITORY

Citadel of art
and music

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