Historical background and roots of tradition
Nulvi, known in Sardinian as Nùjvi, is a village in the Anglona, in the province of Sassari. The name derives from the medieval Nugulbi, probably from a Proto-Sardinian root or from the Latin nux (walnut), recalling a landscape once dotted with wild walnut trees. Nestled on a plateau in northern Sassari, the village preserves a refined tradition of dress, expressed above all in the wedding dress, remarkable for the quality of its materials and the artisanal care of its embroidery.
Women’s dress
The headdress is the velu (veil), white lace, entirely embroidered and rectangular in shape; very wide, it is worn by placing the longer side on the head and falls back to cover the bust. The upper body is made up of several layered garments: the groppittu (short jacket), in patterned velvet with floral motifs on a purple ground, in black and fuchsia, close-fitting and enriched with pink and beige passementerie, with sleeves trimmed with pink satin, open from elbow to wrist and fastened with silver filigree buttons; the imbustu (bodice), in white polychrome floral brocade embellished with black beads, made of two symmetrical sections stiffened with reed ribs, worn over the jacket; the sciallu (shawl), in beige patterned silk, square in shape, hand-painted with fringe applied to the edges, worn folded diagonally over the shoulders. The skirt (faldetta) is black in cloth, fully pleated except for the front panel covered by the apron (fallitta) in organza and black velvet.
Men’s dress
The berritta (beret) is in black cloth, tubular in shape with rounded edges, about sixty centimetres long, and is worn folded over on itself. The shirt (entone) is white cotton of very plain cut. The cosso (waistcoat) is black velvet, double-breasted with small wooden buttons. The cappottinu (short coat) is in black orbace with a hood, waist-length, with black velvet lapels and longitudinal topstitching, open at the front. The trousers (caltzones) are black in orbace, tubular and high-waisted, fastened with hooks and buttons at the front.
Jewelry & Accessories
The buttonera, silver filigree buttons, fasten the sleeves of the jacket. The spillone, an early twentieth-century silver pin, holds the veil to the hair.
