History of Sardinia strongholds on strategic points in the south and west of Sardinia, often peninsulas or islands near estuaries, easy to defend and natural harbours, such as Tharros, Bithia, Sulci, Nora and Caralis (Cagliari). The majority of the inhabitants in these cities were of indigenous nuragic stock while the Phoenician element was, although culturally predominant, in minority. The Phoenicians came originally from what is now Lebanon and founded a vast trading network in the Mediterranean. Sardinia had a special position because it was central in the Western Mediterranean between Carthage, Spain, the river Rhône and the Etruscan civilization area. The mining area
Music of Sardinia of Ordinance) in 1861. "Dimonios" (Demons) is the official hymn of the Sassari Mechanized Brigade, written in Logudorese Sardinian. 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