Museum of the Sea and Shipwrights is part of the Network of sea and navigation museums of the four smaller islands of Sardinia – Carloforte, Asinara, La Maddalena and Sant’Antioco – and has the goal to re-evaluate the cultural heritage linked to the history and figure of the Shipwrights, enhancing their excellence and preserving their memory through the testimonies of the protagonists, gathered in the objects on display, and the stories contained in the texts and images.
For years, in Sardinia, the Shipwrights have designed, built and repaired boats dedicated to sailing around the island. Cagliari, Stintino, Alghero, Carloforte, La Maddalena and Sant’Antioco hosted the most important shipyards where hulls were set up for fishing or local traffic. Ships were moored at these ports and were dedicated to the transport of mining materials from the mines of Buggerru or granite arriving from the coasts of Villasimius.
The Shipwrights were historically considered prominent professionals in the old shipyards, real experts in choosing the most suitable timber for building boats. Their mastery consisted in knowing how to adapt the original log of wood to its end purpose, shaping it with a so-called “ax” (“ascia” in Italian). The figure of the Shipwright, as well as that of the apprentice, is still contemplated in the Navigation Code and the Regulations for the execution of the Navigation Code.
The exhibition layout of the MuMA, located in the building that housed the slaughterhouse of Sant’Antioco, is an experiential journey that illustrates the lagoon, the Shipwrights and signalling at sea (lighthouses, traffic lights and lookout towers) through images, videos and texts.
