The town of Nuoro is a sleepy inland town in Sardinia that is well off the tourist trail. However, I found many things of interest there to make it worth a visit, and the main one was the Museo della Vita e delle Tradizioni Sarde, otherwise known as the Museum of Costume.

If you enjoy fashion and costume, you’ll love the large display of the most beautiful Sardinian costumes, layers of lace, embroidery, coral and gold filigree jewellery. In cases along the side were room-sets with rich displays of traditional Sardinian textiles, carpets and household objects.

If you’re interested in the festivals of this area you can also displays of the weird and sinister costumes and masks that are worn in some of the parades. There are black hooded creatures tied together with ropes and bells are from Orotelli and with their faces covered in black soot they leap on their victims and tie them up during the Carnival procession. Then there are the white hairy goatskins from Marmoida known as Sos Merdules and the even scarier black skinned Mamuthones with dark wooden masks and rows of goat bells so you’ll hear them coming.

Although they look rather Devilish, they are supposed to be symbols of good luck and abundance. On the festival days before Easter they parade through the streets, whipped on by a red jacketed guardian. Every so often they jump in the air and their bells clang. The museum can give you a taste of the festivals and traditions of Sardinia, even if you can’t be there for the festivals themselves.

More on European Museums

Find out about more museums in Europe on Europe a la Carte.

Photos by Heatheronhertravels