Fonni: Culture, Mountains and Traditional Festivals
Accommodation in Fonni
Culture and Historic Districts
The Museo della Cultura Pastorale di Fonni is housed in an old 19th-century mansion. Through images, sounds and typical tools, the museum conveys the pastoral life of the Fonni community. The Museo della Cultura Pastorale di Fonni also displays the masks of Fonni’s traditional carnival, traditional costumes and the votive bread prepared for the Feast of San Giovanni.
The historic districts of Fonni feature mountain houses with scandulas, traditional wooden roof tiles. Murals decorate the historic districts of Fonni. The Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista was built in the 16th century in the late Gothic-Aragonese style and later remodeled.
Archaeological Sites Around Fonni
The Madau archaeological site is a necropolis with four Giants’ tombs. The four Giants’ tombs at Madau face southeast and are arranged in an amphitheater layout. The Madau tombs date from the Late to Final Bronze Age. Gremanu is a Nuragic sanctuary consisting of three temple structures. The Gremanu archaeological site also includes the only known aqueduct from the Nuragic period.
The wider area around Fonni is home to the Nuraghe Talei, an ancient site. The wider area around Fonni is home to the Nuraghe Unturgiadore, a historic site. The wider area around Fonni is home to the Museo Etnografico Casa Montanaru, a museum. The wider area around Fonni is home to the Museo Nivola, a museum.
Carnival, Processions and Festivals
Fonni’s carnival is characterized by the ancient traditional masks s'Urthu and sos Buttudos. The Carnival of Fonni begins on January 16 with the Feast of Saint Anthony the Great; the traditional masks then appear. On the last day of the Carnival of Fonni, Su Ceomo is carried through the streets in a masked procession.
The Santuario della Madonna dei Martiri is a destination for religious devotion, especially during the annual celebrations in honor of Our Lady of the Martyrs. “Sos Coccios” is a song in honor of the Madonna dei Martiri and is part of the annual Feast of the Madonna dei Martiri, celebrated on the first Sunday in June. During the celebration in honor of Saint John, Su Cohone de Vrores is carried in procession together with the statue of Saint John.
The S'Istangiartu tradition originated in 1842. The horsemen associated with S'Istangiartu wear traditional costumes, ride decorated horses and lead Fonni’s important processions for Corpus Christi, the Madonna dei Martiri and San Giovanni Battista. The Palio di Fonni takes place every first Sunday in August at the nearby racetrack.
Local Highlights and Nature
Su Cohone e Vrores is an elaborately decorated, cake-shaped focaccia approximately 40 cm wide and about 10 cm thick. Reeds are inserted into the focaccia, to which 160 bird figures and 5 chicken figures are attached.
The wider area around Fonni is home to Monte su Dovaru, a mountain. The wider area around Fonni is home to Serra s'Istevene, a mountain. The wider area around Fonni is home to Punta la Marmora, a mountain. The wider area around Fonni is home to Su Toni de Girgini, a mountain. Fonni has trekking trails through forests and along springs. Rare species can be observed in Fonni’s bird reserves.
To the main travel overview: Nuoro.
