Museo del Cavallino della Giara

About the museum

The Museo civico del Cavallino della Giara collects the testimonies of the village of Genoni, starting from the historical memory of its people, preserved through material culture, work, stories and the environment. It is a community whose journey is accompanied by the presence of the Giara horse, like a shadow that follows it without ever leaving it.

The section devoted to the horse tells of its origin, the fossils found, its habitat and its relationship with humans, with tools for taming, shoeing and branding. Photographs by Alessio Orrù and a documentary by Sergio Scavio follow life on the Giara plateau over the course of a year, describing flora, fauna and land management. One room is devoted to the Parco della Giara and to the human settlement of Sa Jara Manna.

The ethnographic section occupies the rooms of Casa Serra, restored and turned into a museum: tools of farm work, of the carpenter and of the shepherd, and objects from the kitchens and bedrooms of the early 20th century, some 400 pieces in all, almost all donated by the local population and catalogued according to ICCD standards. The route is based on interviews with the village's elderly residents, which inspired the illustrations of the artist Pia Valentinis, and benefited from the scientific advice of Giulio Angioni.

Highlights

• Section on the Giara horse: origin and habitat
• Photographs by Alessio Orrù and a documentary on life on the Giara
• Ethnographic section in Casa Serra with about 400 objects
• Illustrations by Pia Valentinis inspired by interviews
• Braille aids and tools for an accessible visit

Permanent exhibitions

• Sezione del cavallino della Giara – Origin, habitat and life of the wild Giara horse, with photographs, a documentary and tools for taming.
• Sezione etnografica in casa Serra – About 400 objects of work and domestic life from the early 20th century, accompanied by video interviews with the elderly.

Operated by

Comune di Genoni

Admission & discounts

The ticket includes admission and the guided tour of the museum. A reduced rate also applies to those presenting the admission ticket to the Bosco delle Fiabe di Pau or to the Museo del Giocattolo Tradizionale della Sardegna di Ales, or a stay or meal at the agriturismo Nuraxi e Pinna.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• 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

More than two-thirds of the museum, including the entire ground floor, is accessible by wheelchair. Braille aids are available for reading the panels, and a computer with a Braille display and reading software gives access to the museum's materials. The content can also be accessed via a “pentalibro”, and there are reproductions of objects to handle.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

Family programmes with a museum educator who guides children between theory and practice, educational workshops and a day between museums and a walk in the Giara Park looking for the little horses. A cut-out game is available, and Pia Valentinis's illustrations are designed for the youngest too.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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