The story starts with Stefano Cardu, a Cagliari native who was something like Indiana Jones, but with more silk and less snakes. In the early 1900s, Cardu traveled through Siam-today’s Thailand-and all across the Indochinese peninsula, China, Japan, and India, collecting treasures that most people only see in movies. In 1914, like a generous uncle returning from around the world, he gifted some of his dazzling finds to the city of Cagliari. Over the years, the collection moved homes a few times before finally nesting here in the Citadel of Museums in 1981.
Inside, you can marvel at Buddhist sculptures, intricate ivory carvings, and silverwork that glimmers with stories from the 1600s to the 1800s. Want some adventure? There are Burmese Buddhist relics, delicate Japanese okimono and netsuke from the Meiji era, and porcelain from China’s Ming and Qing dynasties. If that’s not enough, feast your eyes on ancient swords and odd-looking Asian coins-Italy's only collection of Southeast Asian weapons, right under your nose! So, ready to jump continents without leaving Cagliari? Just promise not to try any martial arts moves on the artifacts!
