Radici Guides

Guide to Genealogical Research in Sardinia: Archives, Administrative Variations, and Municipalities

Sardinia boasts a historical, cultural, and administrative heritage of great significance for genealogical research. From an institutional standpoint, the island has experienced a profound evolution of provincial districts: from the four historical provinces (Cagliari, Sassari, Nuoro, and Oristano) it transitioned to the 2001 reform (which led to eight provinces with the establishment of Olbia-Tempio, Ogliastra, Medio Campidano, and Carbonia-Iglesias), followed by subsequent regional reorganizations (including Regional Law of Sardinia no. 2/2016 and subsequent redefinitions) that redesigned borders and reintroduced or modified wide-area territorial entities.

THE PROVINCES OF SARDINIA AND THEIR VARIATIONS

1. Metropolitan City / Province of Cagliari

The district of Cagliari represents the main administrative hub in the south of the island. Over the years, it ceded several municipalities first for the creation of the new provinces of Medio Campidano and Carbonia-Iglesias, which were then partially reorganized into the Metropolitan City of Cagliari and the Province of South Sardinia.

List of Municipalities of the Metropolitan City of Cagliari (17):

Assemini, Cagliari, Capoterra, Decimomannu, Elmas, Maracalagonis, Monserrato, Pula, Quartu Sant'Elena, Quartucciu, Sarroch, Selargius, Sestu, Settimo San Pietro, Sinnai, Uta, Villa San Pietro.

Historical-Administrative Notes and Variations (Cagliari):

• Metropolitan City: Formally established under Regional Law of Sardinia no. 2/2016, succeeding the previous province for the municipalities of the Cagliari urban area.
• Historical territorial variations: Numerous inland municipalities (such as those of Trexenta, Campidano di Cagliari, and Sarrabus) have been assigned over time either to Cagliari or to newly established provinces (Medio Campidano and South Sardinia).

2. Province of Sassari

Extending throughout northern and northwestern Sardinia, the province of Sassari historically encompasses the territories of Capo di Sopra, Nurra, Logudoro, and Gallura (the latter autonomous for a period as the province of Olbia-Tempio).

List of Municipalities of the Province of Sassari (92):

Alghero, Anela, Ardara, Arzachena, Badesi, Banari, Benetutti, Berchidda, Bessude, Bonnanaro, Bono, Bonorva, Bortigiadas, Bottidda, Buddusò, Budoni, Cargeghe, Castelsardo, Cheremule, Chiaramonti, Codrongianos, Cossoine, Erula, Esporlatu, Florinas, Giave, Golfo Aranci, Illorai, Ittireddu, Ittiri, La Maddalena, Laerru, Luogosanto, Luras, Mara, Martis, Monteleone Rocca Doria, Mores, Muros, Nughedu San Nicolò, Nule, Nulvi, Olbia, Ossi, Ozieri, Padria, Padru, Palau, Perfugas, Ploaghe, Porto Torres, Pozzomaggiore, Putifigari, Romana, Santa Teresa Gallura, Sant'Antonio di Gallura, Sassari, Sedini, Semestene, Sennori, Siligo, Sorso, Stintino, Tissi, Torralba, Tula, Uri, Usini, Valledoria, Viddalba, Villanova Monteleone.

Historical-Administrative Notes and Variations (Sassari):

• Olbia-Tempio: Established under Regional Law of Sardinia no. 9/2001, operational from 2005, and subsequently re-incorporated/redefined in subsequent reforms (Gallura). For earlier genealogical research, the records of this area belonged to the district of Sassari.
• Stintino: Established as an autonomous municipality by detaching from Sassari in 1988.

3. Province of Nuoro

As the mountainous heartland and the center of Barbagia, the province of Nuoro has undergone several territorial changes, particularly with the detachment of the municipalities of Ogliastra in 2001/2005 and their subsequent re-inclusion or autonomy depending on regional reforms.

List of Municipalities of the Province of Nuoro (52):

Aritzo, Atzara, Austis, Belvì, Birori, Bitti, Bolotana, Borore, Bortigali, Desulo, Dorgali, Dualchi, El_lighes (?), Fonni, Gadoni, Galtelli, Gavoi, Irgoli, Lei, Loculi, Lodine, Lodè, Macomer, Mamoiada, Meana Sardo, Noragugume, Nuoro, Oliena, Ollolai, Olzai, Onanì, Onifai, Orani, Orgosolo, Orosei, Orotelli, Ortueri, Orune, Osidda, Ottana, Ovodda, Posada, Sarule, Silanus, Simaxis (Oristano), Siniscola, Sorgono, Teti, Tiana, Tonara, Torpè.

Historical-Administrative Notes and Variations (Nuoro):

• Province of Ogliastra: The Ogliastra territories (Lanusei, Tortolì, etc.) were detached from Nuoro with the establishing law of 2001 and later transitioned into subsequent arrangements. Remote historical records remain kept at the State Archive of Nuoro.

4. Province of Oristano

Established in 1974 (by Presidential Decree (D.P.R.) no. 119, operational from 1975) by detaching numerous municipalities from the provinces of Cagliari and Nuoro, the province of Oristano preserves the historical memory of the Giudicato of Arborea.

List of Municipalities of the Province of Oristano (87):

Abbasanta, Aidomaggiore, Albagiara, Ales, Allai, Arborea, Assolo, Asuni, Baradili, Bauladu, Bidonì, Bonarcado, Boroneddu, Bosa, Busachi, Cabras, Cuglieri, Curcuris, Flussio, Gonnoscodina, Gonnosnò, Gonnostramatza, Marrubiu, Masullas, Milis, Modolo, Mogorella, Mogoro, Montresta, Morgongiori, Narbolia, Neoneli, Neureci, Norbello, Nughedu Santa Vittoria, Nurachi, Ollastra, Oristano, Palmas Arborea, Pau, Paulilatino, Pompu, Riola Sardo, Ruinas, Sagama, San Nicolò d'Arcidano, San Vero Milis, Santu Lussurgiu, Scano di Montiferro, Sedilo, Seneghe, Senis, Sennariolo, Siapiccia, Simala, Simaxis, Sini, Siris, Solarussa, Sorradile, Tadasuni, Terralba, Tinnura, Tramatza, Tresnuraghes, Ulà Tirso, Uras, Usellus, Villaurbana, Zeddiani, Zerfaliu.

Historical-Administrative Notes and Variations (Oristano):

• Arborea: Founded in 1928 as Villaggio Mussolini, renamed Mussolinia di Sardegna in 1930, and finally Arborea by Royal Decree of April 19, 1945, no. 239.
• Establishment of the Province: D.P.R. of July 16, 1974, no. 119 (Official Gazette). The original municipalities historically belonged to the jurisdictions of Cagliari and Nuoro.

5. Province of South Sardinia

The Province of South Sardinia was established as part of the reorganization of Sardinian local autonomies (Regional Law of Sardinia no. 2/2016), merging the territories of the former provinces of Medio Campidano, Carbonia-Iglesias, and part of the former province of Cagliari.

List of Municipalities of the Province of South Sardinia (107):

Iglesias, Carbonia, Sanluri, Villacidro (main centers), as well as Guspini, Gonnosfanadiga, Pabillonis, San Gavino Monreale, Sardara, Segariu, Serramanna, Serrenti, Setzu, Siddi, Turri, Ussaramanna, Villamar, Villanovaforru, Villanovafranca, Domusnovas, Fluminimaggiore, Giba, Masainas, Musei, Narcao, Nuxis, Perdaxius, Piscinas, Portoscuso, San Giovanni Suergiu, Sant'Anna Arresi, Sant'Antioco, Santadi, Tratalias, Vallermosa, Buggerru, Calasetta, Carloforte, Domus de Maria (South Sardinia and Metropolitan City of Cagliari, totaling 107 municipalities across Sulcis, Campidano, and Trexenta).

Historical-Administrative Notes and Variations (South Sardinia):

• Carbonia-Iglesias and Medio Campidano: Provinces established in 2001 and made operational in 2005, subsequently merged in 2016 into the new macro-province of South Sardinia. For historical archival research, reference is made to the records of the prefectures and courts of Cagliari and Iglesias/Oristano.

Synoptic Table of Administrative and Regulatory Variations in Sardinia