Civico Museo Archeologico “Villa Abbas”
Archaeological museum in Sardara covering prehistory to the Middle Ages, with finds from the Sant'Anastasia area, the Terr'e Cresia necropolis and the Monreale castle.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum was founded in 1981, opened in 1997, is run by the Comune di Sardara and is dedicated to the archaeologist Antonio Taramelli. It is housed in an early 20th-century building, formerly the town hall and schools, restored in the 1990s. The name recalls the designation given in the Byzantine and early medieval period to the Roman thermal settlement: in Sardinian, “villa abbas” means “village of the waters”.
The permanent exhibition runs from prehistory to the Middle Ages over two levels and brings together finds from excavations carried out in the municipalities along State Road 131 between Sardara and Monastir. A teaching room introduces the phases of Sardinian history and pottery-making techniques. This is followed by material from the Sant'Anastasia area, including the Nuragic sacred well and the Byzantine church, and from the Roman necropolis of Terr'e Cresia, with more than a hundred pit graves.
Among the rooms are copies of the two Nuragic archers found in 1913 at Sa Costa (the originals are in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Cagliari), and finds from the excavations of the medieval castle of Monreale, one of the southern defensive strongholds of the Giudicato di Arborea. The last rooms hold finds from the municipalities between Sardara and San Sperate.
Highlights
- Finds from the Sant'Anastasia archaeological area
- Grave goods from the Roman necropolis of Terr'e Cresia
- Copies of the two Nuragic archers from Sa Costa
- Finds from the medieval castle of Monreale
- Tactile route with Braille and replicas
Permanent exhibition
- Esposizione permanente dalla preistoria al Medioevo – Eight rooms on two levels with finds from Sant'Anastasia, Terr'e Cresia, Monreale and the municipalities between Sardara and San Sperate.
- Founded
- 1997
- Operated by
- Comune di Sardara
- Visitors per year
- approx. 3,000
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3 |
Prices as listed on the Musei Italiani portal. The museum's service charter refers visitors for prices and exemptions to the museum or to the CoopCulture website, which runs the ticket office.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum is accessible to people with disabilities thanks to a ramp at the entrance and a lift to the upper floors. The route for visually impaired visitors includes Braille and tactile materials, mostly replicas of the most important objects.
Kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 60 min |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
The museum offers educational projects and workshops for all age groups, by reservation.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
Eating and drinking are prohibited inside the exhibition rooms.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (IT, EN, FR, DE, ES) |
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Flash photography and photos that include other visitors are not allowed. |
| Good to know | The audio guide (30 listening points) is available while devices last, or via a free app in Italian and English. Educational projects and workshops for all ages by reservation only: by phone (070 938 6183 or 070 938 7304), by email or via the CoopCulture website. A 3D virtual tour is available at sardaraturismo.it. |
