Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Bonaria, Cagliari

The museum is located in the spaces adjacent to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Bonaria, on the homonymous hill, in a building of Aragonese origin and headquarters of the Mercedarian order, known especially for their commitment over the centuries to the liberation of slaves.

The Sanctuary, on the other hand, owes its fame to the wooden statue of the Madonna that landed on the beach in front in 1370, and to the consequent establishment of a strong cult of the Virgin as protector of sailors.

The collected relics are, for the most part, ex-votos from those who escaped shipwreck or slavery, however, there are also offerings from sovereigns and people of illustrious name such as, for example, the golden crowns offered in February 1816 by Vittorio Emanuele I and Maria Teresa. Vestments, monstrances, chalices, and precious reliquaries, gifts from princes and prelates, fill the display cases. High on a wall shines the large silver anchor offered by Queen Margherita of Savoy. Sabres, decorations, coins, porcelains, and even sounding leads and bombs fill the display cases.