Nuorese Cultural District
Bitti
Description
Bitti is known for its rich cultural and musical tradition, and in particular traditional song.
The town is set in a lush mountain landscape, with lots of places for hiking and other outdoor activities.
The surrounding area is dotted with traces of antiquity: the domus de janas and menhirs (perdas fittas in Sardinian, meaning embedded stones) tell a story that dates back to the Neolithic, while the vestiges of nuraghic civilisation tell that of the Bronze Age.
One of the most notable sites is the village-sanctuary at Romanzesu, one of the most important archaeological areas in all of Sardinia.
Bitti is also known for its numerous churches, like the sanctuary of Nostra Signora del Miracolo, the church of San Giovanni Battista (Santu Juanne 'e s'Ena) and the sanctuary of N.S. dell'Annunziata (s'Annossata).
In the old town, the most important church is Santu Jorgi (St George the Martyr), followed by the churches of Sa Pietate (Madonna of Mercy) and San Michele, while the Gorofai quarter is home to the church of Su Sarvatore (Holy Saviour). These religious buildings attest to Bitti’s religiosity, with a total of nine churches in the town itself and twelve more in the surrounding countryside.
Bitti is famous across Sardinia for the skill of the local musicians who preserve the art of canto a tenore, a form of singing recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The town has a multimedia museum devoted to this renowned musical tradition, where you can listen to the most famous songs from various parts of the island. In one of the rooms, there are four ‘totems’ or audiovisual columns reproducing the four voices of canto a tenore: bass, contralto, boche (solo) and mesu boche (mezza voce).
The exhibits are hosted in a traditional stone building with a wooden ceiling and floors. The same building also houses the Museo della Civiltà Contadina e Pastorale, which has an important ethnographic collection illustrating life in the town and its customs and traditions.
Bitti is home to artisan workshops specialised in pottery, wrought iron, leather work, woodwork, intarsia and textiles, combining traditional methods with modern interpretations.
Bitti is a fascinating place blending history, culture, nature and lively traditions, offering visitors an authentic experience of Sardinia.