La Crucca Roman Castrum Park - Educational farm

🔷 A Journey Through Time at La Crucca: Experience a Day as a Roman Legionary in Sardinia

Have you ever dreamed of travelling back in time? Perhaps to find yourself among the ranks of Roman legions, inside a real fort, immersed in the daily life of antiquity.

In north-western Sardinia, just a few kilometres from Sassari, the La Crucca Roman Castrum Park awaits you—the first and only faithful reconstruction of a Roman castrum in Italy from the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, dating back 2000 years. A surprising place where history, nature, and adventure blend to offer an unforgettable experience for both young and old.

The Castrum, as you see it, is the result of the Castrum Romano Association, born from a passion for ancient Rome. The association operates in the field of historical reenactment and organises annual historical, cultural, playful, and recreational activities in the park surrounding the Roman fort of La Crucca.

🔷 THE CASTRUM: AS IT WAS 2000 YEARS AGO

The Roman castrum (plural: castra) was the fortification that Roman legionaries built during their conquest campaigns. Inside, there were various buildings serving as soldiers' quarters, the commander's residence, workshops, stables, warehouses, latrines, etc. It was a self-sufficient military citadel ensuring that soldiers could live safely during their campaigns to conquer new territories. After the conquest, the castrum became the centre from which Roman authority and civilisation spread—a legacy that still influences us today. castra. The Roman castrum (plural: castra) was the fortification that Roman legionaries built during their conquest campaigns. Inside, there were various buildings serving as soldiers' quarters, the commander's residence, workshops, stables, warehouses, latrines, etc. It was a self-sufficient military citadel ensuring that soldiers could live safely during their campaigns to conquer new territories. After the conquest, the castrum became the centre from which Roman authority and civilisation spread—a legacy that still influences us today. (Learn more).

At the Roman Castrum Park, you can closely explore:

• The legionaries' dormitories, furnished with beds and everyday objects

• The commander's residence

• The armoury and infirmary

• The kitchen and bread oven

• The blacksmith's workshop

• The tower with the ballista, an imposing siege weapon

• A diorama room that narrates military life with models and historical reconstructions.

Within the Roman Castrum, you can have an unforgettable experience for all ages, spending a different day outdoors and perhaps meeting the legionaries of the Cohors I Nurritanorum, a Sardinian unit composed of Sardinian soldiers, which is the historical reenactment group from Sassari that animates the Castrum on special occasions.

🔷 NEW FOR 2026: THE SARDINIAN VILLAGE OF THE "SARDI PELLITI"

Opposite the faithful reconstruction of the Roman Castrum, symbol of Rome's military organisation, in 2026 the Park will introduce a new immersive area dedicated to the Sardinian communities of the interior, traditionally referred to in Roman sources as 'Sardi Pelliti'.

The term pelliti literally means “clothed in skins” and appears in the writings of Latin authors such as Titus Livius and Marcus Tullius Cicero.
However, it did not refer to a people with this name, but was an expression used by the Romans to describe the communities of inland Sardinia which, during the Roman domination of the province of Sardinia et Corsica, maintained their traditions and relative cultural autonomy for longer.

In particular, the mountainous areas that the Romans called Barbaria (now Barbagia) were considered difficult to control and less integrated into the Roman urban system than coastal cities such as Karalis or Tharros.

The Village does not therefore represent a 'mysterious people', but rather reconstructs the life of the indigenous Sardinian communities of the Roman era in an educational way: sheep farming, simple dwellings, tribal organisation and traditions rooted in Nuragic civilisation.

🔷 A PARK BETWEEN HISTORY AND NATURE

The Castrum is immersed in a large private green park: a true haven of peace among trees, ponds, natural springs, and wide meadows. You'll find:

• A children's play area

• A small bar and picnic area with barbecue, tables, and benches

• Toilet facilities (including for disabled visitors)

• Free parking, spacious and also accessible to coaches

An ideal place to spend a day outdoors with family, combining relaxation and discovery.

🔷 THE EDUCATIONAL FARM

Inside the park, there's also a meticulously maintained educational farm, with many animal species to observe and get to know up close: llamas, emus, alpacas, horses, Vietnamese piglets, Tibetan goats, peacocks, turkeys, and many others. Perfect for children and school groups; it's an opportunity to learn respect and love for nature through interaction with animals.

🔷 OPENING HOURS

🔷 ACTIVITIES FOR SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

The park offers educational and recreational activities from March to November, designed for different age groups:

✅ For nursery schools:

• visit to the farm;

• honey workshop;

• direct contact with animals in the enclosures.

✅ For primary, middle, and university students:

• meetings with the legionaries of the Cohors I Nurritanorum;

• workshops on Roman military tactics;

• role-playing games, interactive activities, and simulations;

• immersive experiences to "live" life in the Castrum.

The boys and girls will have a unique and unforgettable experience learning interesting facts about Roman history: what architecture looked like, how the land was measured, what people ate, how they played, what customs were... in short, they will return home knowing that they have lived like a real Roman soldier.

Throughout the day, they will be able to enjoy unique experiences designed especially for them, where they will have the opportunity to learn by playing! Lots of physical activity in the open air where they will be able to try their hand for a few hours in the role of legionaries and auxiliary soldiers, using military formations such as the tortoise and the shield wall, simulating battles and sieges at the castrum. They will also deepen their knowledge of Roman history through role-playing games and educational workshops.

So what an opportunity to embark on an exciting journey back in time into Roman civilisation, seen not only from a military aspect, but also from a civil one!

🔷 PARTIES, EVENTS AND FREEDOM

The Park is also the ideal place for:

• birthday parties;

• historical or fantasy-themed events;

• days among friends with animals in tow (they are welcome!);

• bike explorations along park trails.

🔷 ADMISSION PRICES

Visit Castrum, Sardinian Village and Educational Farm + stay inside the Park:

• 👉 Adults, €15.00;

• 👉 Children aged 3 to 10 years old, €10.00 – free for children under 3 years old.

🔶 FAMILY OFFERS