Museo delle Maschere Mediterranee
Museum in Mamoiada dedicated to the Barbagia carnival, with the masks of the Mamuthones and Issohadores and masks from Mediterranean traditions.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Museo delle Maschere Mediterranee, opened on 10 November 2001, is located in Piazza Europa in Mamoiada, in the heart of Barbagia. It is part of the Sistema museale di Mamoiada, which also includes the Museo della Cultura e del Lavoro and the Museo dell’Archeologia e del Territorio (MATer). Mamoiada is known worldwide for its carnival, linked to the feast of Sant’Antonio Abate on 16 and 17 January, and was recognised in 2023 as a historic carnival (Carnevale storico) by the Ministero della Cultura.
The exhibition route compares the ritual arts of Barbagia with those of a wider area of the Mediterranean. One section presents complete masks and costumes of the Mamuthones and Issohadores of Mamoiada, the Boes, Merdules and Filonzana of Ottana and the Thurpos of Orotelli, as well as a collection of ancient hand-carved wooden masks (viséras) from Mamoiada and Ottana. The other section gathers masks and costumes from South Tyrol, Friuli, Portugal, Spain, Bulgaria, Greece, Slovenia and Croatia.
The exhibition is enriched by dioramas, multimedia installations, video projections and a multi-screen show with large screens, with the voice of the scholar Bachisio Bandinu, who recounts the community’s bond with the ancient rite. A multimedia visit with augmented reality headsets can be added, and bookable experiences are available, such as meeting the craftspeople who make the traditional masks.
Highlights
- Masks and costumes of the Mamuthones and Issohadores
- Masks from Ottana, Orotelli and the Mediterranean
- Multi-screen show with the voice of Bachisio Bandinu
- Multimedia visit with augmented reality
- Experience of the craft production of the masks (by booking)
Permanent exhibitions
- Arte rituale della Barbagia – Complete masks and costumes of the Mamuthones and Issohadores of Mamoiada, the Boes, Merdules and Filonzana of Ottana and the Thurpos of Orotelli, with ancient wooden masks.
- Arte rituale del bacino del Mediterraneo – Masks and costumes from South Tyrol, Friuli, Portugal, Spain, Bulgaria, Greece, Slovenia and Croatia.
- Founded
- 2001
- Operated by
- Sistema museale di Mamoiada
- Visitors per year
- approx. 28,057
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €9 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €7groups of at least 15 people, young people under 18, visitors over 70, companions of people with disabilities |
| Children & teens | €7free up to age 4 · Free admission under 5 years; reduced ticket under 18 years. |
| Seniors | €7Reduced rate for visitors over 70. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freeFree admission for people with disabilities; reduced rate for companions. |
| Groups (15+ people) | €7 per personReduced rate for groups of at least 15 people. |
| Families | €18Family rate valid for 2 members of the same family unit (adults and/or children up to 18 years). |
| Multimedia visit with augmented reality (add-on to the ticket) | €3 |
Online prices include an advance sales fee of €1.50, which allows entry without queuing and gives a 10% discount at the bookshop on purchases of at least €20. Free admission also for ICOM members, licensed tourist guides, residents of Mamoiada, teachers, researchers and university students of ethno-anthropological subjects. No reductions are available for guided tours, workshops, exhibitions and events.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum is at Piazza Europa 15, in Mamoiada.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
Bookshop available.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours in Italian, English, French and Spanish on request (info@museomaschere.it). On booking: “La Culla dei Mamuthones e Issohadores” (every day) and a visit to the craft production of the masks (Monday to Friday). The museum system also offers educational activities. |
