History of Sardinia from the Mainland. The repression by the Fascist regime of its opponents within the region was ruthless. Rural Sardinia showed little interest in the Fascist state, while the urban bourgeoise from the cities were its staunchest supporters on the island. Antonio Gramsci, one of the founders of Italian Communist Party, was arrested and died in prison. The anarchist Michele Schirru was executed after a failed assassination plot against Benito Mussolini. During World War II Sardinia was a theater of bombing; the cities of Cagliari and Alghero were heavily bombed. The war ended in Sardinia in late 1943, with the shift
Music of Sardinia Music of Sardinia Sardinia is probably the most culturally distinct of all the regions in Italy and, musically, is best known for the "tenore" polyphonic singing, sacred chants called "gosos", the "launeddas", an ancient instrument that consists of a set of three single-reed pipes, all three mouth-blown simultaneously using circular breathing, with two chanters and one drone and the "cantu a chiterra", a monodic song that is accompanied by guitar, widespread mainly in the center and north of the island. The "launeddas" are an ancient instrument, dating back to at least the 8th century BC. They are played using circular