Traditional Dress of Terralba

Historical background and roots of tradition

Terralba, known in Sardinian as Terraba, is a town in the Campidano di Oristano, in the province of Oristano. The name derives from the Latin terra alba (“white earth”), a reference to the pale clay soils characteristic of its territory.

Women’s dress

Sa gunnedda aggaiada, the skirt in cotton-and-wool fabric, is hand-pleated across its full width; the smooth front panel (sa portedda) is gathered at the waist with a cord. The hem is trimmed with a black velvet ribbon and two rows of black lace.

Su deventale, the silk apron, matches the colour of the skirt and is edged with the same lace; a distinctive gathered upper border enriches it, tied in a bow at the back. Su cippone, the jacket in violet damask silk, is enriched at the front and cuffs with a velvet border finished with gold-and-black passementerie and black lace.

Is pabas, the fitted floral brocade bodice — with three flower motifs on the back — is decorated with gold passementerie and fastened at the front with ribbons. Sa camisa, the white cotton shirt, is embroidered at the front and cuffs, with very wide sleeves characteristic of this tradition; worn long to the ankles, it also serves as an underskirt. Su muncadoreddu, a small silky cotton neckerchief, is tied under the chin with a prominent bow. Su muncadori mannu, an antique cotton headscarf printed with floral motifs along the border and adorned with a high brown silk fringe, is folded into a triangle and placed on the head with the two ends left free at the front.

Men’s dress

Su cippone, the black wool broadcloth vest, is double-breasted with gold buttons and richly bordered with burgundy velvet and gold-and-black passementerie. Sa camisa, the cotton shirt, is embroidered at the cuffs and front, with a high embroidered stand-up collar and very wide sleeves featuring pleating around the neckline and along the sleeves themselves.

Sa braga, the short kilt in black pleated wool broadcloth, is finished with a green velvet border and worn over sa braga bianca, wide white cotton trousers gathered at the calf and tucked inside the footwear. Is carzas, the boot covers in black wool broadcloth with a burgundy velvet border, fasten below the knee. Sa berritta, the bag-shaped cap, is folded on the head according to the wearer’s preference.