Traditional Dress of Barrali

Historical background and roots of tradition

Barrali, known in Sardinian as Barràli (also Barrabi), is a village of the Trexenta, in the Province of Sud Sardegna. The name derives from the Campidanese term barràli, meaning pergola or grapevine trellis: a testimony to the area’s ancient viticultural tradition, historically characterised by the cultivation of vines trained on pergolas. The village, set in a fertile, hilly landscape, has preserved over the centuries its strong ties to agricultural traditions and festive dress, still worn at the main civic and religious celebrations.

Women’s dress

The women’s festive dress of Barrali is built up in layered elements. On the head are worn the black cotton muccadori, folded into a triangle and knotted at the nape of the neck, and a white muccadori in fine wool, also triangular but with the ends left free and sometimes embroidered. For the most solemn occasions, a black wool sciallu (shawl) is added, with fringe along the edges and polychrome floral embroidery, fastened at the shoulder with a pin.

At the bodice, the white cotton camisa is pleated across the chest, with an embroidered bib, smocking at the collar and cuffs, lace trim and gold filigree pins. Over it is worn the white cossu in polychrome floral brocade, edged in red satin, with a wide neckline, gathered ribbon, gold braid and two hook-and-eye clasps.

The skirt — the gunnedda — is in red damask satin with black floral motifs, fully pleated except for the front panel, with a gold braid at the lower edge. The deventali (apron) is black fine wool, edged with black lace and decorated with polychrome floral embroidery.

Men’s dress

The men’s festive dress of Barrali includes shirt, waistcoat and three distinct leg garments. The white cotton camisa is pleated across the chest, at the armhole and at the cuffs with hemstitching; collar, bib and cuffs are embroidered separately, and the neck fastens with two gold filigree buttons. The black wool corpettu is edged with gold braid and closes with three buttons.

For the legs, white cotton bragas are worn, reaching to mid-calf and tucked inside the gaiters. The ragas is a black wool panel, pleated at the waist and hanging to mid-thigh; a strip of fabric passes under the crotch to hold it in place. The cratzas, in black wool, cover the calf with a rounded hem and are fastened below the knee with a lace.