Gianluca Pitzeri Researcher & Writer
Although born in Tuscany I have lived in Sardinia since I was four when my parents returned to their homeland with me and my sister. I grew up in Austis, a small town in the heart of the island and far from city life. When not at school my friends and I spent our time playing five-a-side football, all hours of the day and in any temperature. After finishing middle school I continued my education at the high school in nearby Sorgono. This is where I developed my love of history and loathing for mathematics.
Besides archaeology, my greatest passions are football, technology and video games. My father passed on to me my the passion for Inter Milan – I am a great fan. While my interest in technology began with my first mobile phone at the age of 8. I loved its bright yellow colour and the now-disappeared flap. Ever since my parents gave me a Nintendo64 and then PlayStation 1, video games captured a lot of my attention. Like many kids I could be glued to the screen for hours. Their capacity to both entertain and communicate has always fascinated me, and influences my interest in digital archaeology.Â
Sardinia & My Top 5 Recommendations for any Visitor
Sardinia is an island that seems to be imbued with a magical aura capable of enchanting anyone. Us inhabitants consider ourselves lucky to live in a land of such beauty. Those who are forced to leave it for one reason or another always dream of returning. Despite the years spent discovering its territory, among villages, towns, beaches and mountains, I can assure you that I never stop finding something new and memorable. The scent of Mediterranean shrubs and salt as the sun sets over the sea, the sound of animal bells in the fields, the infinite colours offered by its beaches in summer and forests in autumn, or the white of the snow on the central Gennargentu Massif in winter, are just some of the things that gives Sardinia its unique qualities. While listing the islands characteristics makes it seem like a small paradise, and in some ways it is, inland rural areas, especially where I come from, increasingly faced with younger generations moving out of the area. Sadly, small municipalities are disappearing, along with their traditions and customs.
Only recently has Sardinia been trying to project a strong tourist image, one that is not only linked to its beaches but also to its many other characteristics. Tourists are able to experience traditional foods, wines and liqueurs; an immense archaeological heritage dominated by more than 7,000 nuraghi; important age-old religious festivities in the towns that bring together thousands of people from all over the island; the autumn events in Barbagia, where from September to December every weekend the inland villages welcome visitors and show off their traditions; the beaches, lakes and mountains that dominate the landscape and hiking routes that offer unparalleled perspectives.
You can do and discover so many things, throughout the year. For me, the best time to visit Sardinia is in May, September and October when the temperatures are not too high and you can comfortably explore the area and also visit the idyllic beaches. Of course, I accept this is a personal view. If you are a sea and beach lover, then the best time is undoubtedly between June and September. If you don’t you like excessive heat, then choose the spring months between April and May and those between October and November. These months are excellent for visiting archaeology sites and hiking.
People often ask me what are the top things to do in Sardinia. Based on my own tastes, memories and favourite places, these are what I recommend in response.
Try delicious local foods, in particular on sedas, culurgiones and porcetto sardo, to name a few typical Sardinian dishes, for as long as you can because once you leave the island, you will surely miss them.
Take a mini-cruise or hire an inflatable boat to visit the beautiful coves in the Gulf of Orosei, with waters so blue and crystal clear that you almost want to dive off the moving ship to take a dip.
Visit the historic centre of Alghero, with its narrow streets, colourful coral shops and breath-taking views of the sea. At sunset stop at one of the cafés on the medieval walls and enjoy the view with an aperitif, it will remain in your memory for a long time.
Take part in at least one of the Autunno in Barbagia events, in which the inland villages play a leading role, displaying all the products of their traditions to visitors, such as typical foods, wines, cheeses, handicrafts and much more.
My last, and one that has a piece of my heart, go canoeing in the sea at a place that I think is the most beautiful on the island, La Pelosa beach. The water has vivid colours ranging from green to blue and is so clear that you almost feel like you are flying over the seabed.
Archaeology, My Studies & Archaeology Travel
If I had to think of a moment that kick-started my passion for archaeology, it would have to be when I was 10 and fascinated by the myth of Atlantis. I even wrote a short and fanciful story about my journey to discover this mythical place. What should have been in my mind an epic tale, in reality, remained a small, poorly written text in Word 98, not even 2 pages long. A place I would discover never existed. Even as a child, I was attracted to history, legends and ancient ruins, thanks to the various books I was given about Sumerians, Egyptians, Greeks and Romans and because of the ruins of the Nuragic civilisation that surrounded me.
When it was time to choose a university I had no doubts, opting for the degree course in cultural heritage with an archaeological focus at the University of Cagliari, which I completed in 2017. For my Bachelor degree thesis I carried out archive and field research to identify the location of the lost church of Sant’Agostino di Austis.
After completing my Bachelor’s degree, I immediately enrolled for a Master’s Degree in Archaeology and History of Art, during which I alternated study with work. The Master’s course focused on the full breadth of Sardinian archaeology and the Mediterranean peoples who interacted with the island. In a series of courses I have learned about the people of Sardinia from the earliest prehistoric societies, to the Nuragic society of the Bronze Age; the complex dynamics that led the Phoenicians to roam the Mediterranean in the Iron Age, founding colonies and trading posts, with a particular focus on Sardinia and their interaction with the indigenous peoples; the Punic period, with the conquest of Carthage, and the study of the main settlements that arose on the island during its domination; the Classical period; the emergence of evidence linked to the first places of worship of the Christian religion in Rome and Sardinia and its iconographic representations; the post-Classical period, analysed through specific examinations on the history and art history of Byzantine and medieval, and on the early and late medieval archaeological contexts. During my studies I have also had the opportunity to participate in several excavation projects, allowing me to integrate theoretical knowledge with the physical reality of archaeological sites.
Given our ever-changing world, where what is new today is outdated tomorrow, the direction I have chosen for my training and career to pursue my interest in technology and explore how new technologies can be applied to the issues facing archaeological and historical heritage. Today we find ourselves managing an infinite archaeological heritage that we only sometimes manage to exploit in the right way. There are so many archaeological sites that, after being excavated and investigated, are left to fate, unable to tell their story due to poor management, becoming mere ruins, bare and devoid of meaning. Through state-of-the-art digital technologies, we can now create images and stories that centre the people who lived in the ruins and used the artefacts we recover. Technology can intervene where conservation cannot, helping people to understand better the archaeological heritage. Not all places enjoy the fame of the Colosseum, the Parthenon or the Pyramids. In a world where tourism is on the rise, it is necessary to communicate an area and its heritage to visitors in an engaging.
During my Masters studies, and quite by chance, I met Thomas, the founder of Archaeology Travel. In our initial conversations I realised that we both shared the same vision regarding archaeology and wanted to act similarly: to bring novelty and a new way of understanding and communicating archaeological and cultural heritage to a wider audience. Archaeology Travel aims to promote archaeology in a manner that encourages exploration in sustainable and engaging ways, with an eye on accessibility and inclusiveness. One topic repeatedly being raised in discussions about making tourism sustainable is the need to create an interest in little-known destinations to partly balance tourist traffic. Archaeology Travel’s work to address this issue and the solutions being developed, using new technologies, is what prompted me to embrace its vision and join the team. More specifically though I am greatly enjoying the field trips and research to create our Sardinia Travel Guide.
