Autumn in BarbagiaAutunno in Barbagia

Autunno in Barbagia is a multi-week cultural journey held each autumn (September–December) across the Barbagia region of Sardinia 1. In each weekend over two or three months, a different mountain town opens its doors to visitors from around the island and beyond. Villagers in traditional dress lead guests through their own 'cortes' (courtyards of old houses), offering tastings of local autumnal foods (pane carasau, preserves, roasted chestnuts) and demonstrations of crafts (weaving, cheese-making, etc.). The focus is on authentic interaction: small home-run restaurants serve simple meals, and artisans show ancestral skills. It is an immersive experience of Sardinian rural life and identity.

SSardinia’s inland Barbagia is often seen as the 'heart' of Sardinian tradition. This event started to preserve and showcase the hidden cultural heritage of its towns (Nuoro, Fonni, Gavoi, etc.) by encouraging villagers to become hosts of their own history and craft. Unlike a tourism fair, Autunno in Barbagia keeps the local communities at its core: it highlights the everyday culture of farmers, shepherds, and artisans rather than staged entertainment, reinforcing internal awareness of Sardinian culinary and artisanal identity.