Deep-dive

Identity and administration

Special statute (1948). Intermediate bodies under reform: metropolitan cities of Cagliari and Sassari and provinces of Nuoro, Oristano, Gallura Nord-Est, Ogliastra, Medio Campidano and Sulcis Iglesiente, run by commissioners pending elections. Sardinian and Alghero Catalan protected by law 482/1999; Tabarchino, Gallurese and Sassarese by regional law. Sant'Efisio, Candelieri, Sartiglia.

Sections: Geography · History · Population · Languages · Time zone · Public holidays

Cagliari – Metropolitan City of Cagliari, capital Cagliari (seat of the Region)
Sassari – Metropolitan City of Sassari (created by the 2021 reform, operational from 2025)
Nuoro – capital Nuoro; Oristano – capital Oristano
Gallura Nord-Est Sardegna – capitals Olbia and Tempio Pausania
Ogliastra – capitals Tortolì and Lanusei; Medio Campidano – capitals Sanluri and Villacidro; Sulcis Iglesiente – capitals Carbonia and Iglesias
The new provinces are run by extraordinary administrators pending the first elections; check the current arrangement on the Region's website

Statute and languages

The special statute (constitutional law 3/1948) gives the Region exclusive powers and the regional council; since 2022 article 119 of the Constitution recognises the disadvantages of insularity. 28 April is Sa Die de sa Sardigna, the regional holiday. Law 482/1999 protects Sardinian, in its Logudorese and Campidanese varieties, still spoken by a significant part of the population especially inland, and the Catalan of Alghero, brought by 14th-century settlers; regional law 22/2018 also protects the Tabarchino (Ligurian) of Carloforte and Calasetta, Gallurese and Sassarese. The Region funds language desks and Sardinian teaching in schools. The Four Moors flag is the regional symbol.

Cagliari: Sant'Efisio, 1 May, a four-day procession to Nora with traditional costumes from all over the island; patron saint San Saturnino, 30 October
Sassari: Discesa dei Candelieri, 14 August (UNESCO intangible heritage among the shoulder-borne structures since 2013); Cavalcata Sarda in May
Nuoro: Sagra del Redentore, last Sunday of August; Oristano: Sartiglia, Carnival equestrian joust
Mamoiada: Mamuthones and Issohadores, 17 January and Carnival; Sedilo: Ardia di San Costantino, 6–7 July
Canto a tenore, pastoral polyphony, UNESCO intangible heritage since 2008
Autunno in Barbagia (September–December), open houses and cellars in the villages of the Nuoro area

Population

Regional figurePeriod: Jan 1, 2025Validsample unknown

Source: ISTAT – Popolazione residente al 1° gennaio (dataflow 22_289, DCIS_POPRES1)

1,562,381people