Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, with a population of about 1.6 million people. The list includes notable natives of Sardinia, as well as those who were born elsewhere but spent a large part of their active life in Sardinia. People of Sardinian heritage and descent are in a separate section of this article.
Academic figures and inventors
- Pietro Amat di San Filippo (1826âÂÂ1895), geographer, historian and bibliographer
- Giulio Angioni (1939âÂÂ2016), writer and anthropologist
- Efisio Arru (1927âÂÂ2000), parasitologist
- Domenico Alberto Azuni (1749âÂÂ1827), jurist
- Ludovico Baille (1764âÂÂ1869), historian
- Augusto Bissiri (1879âÂÂ1968), inventor, credited as one of the first developers of television, the cathode-ray tube and the fax
- Remo Bodei (born in Cagliari, 1938), philosopher
- Francesco Antonio Boi (1767âÂÂ1850), physician and anatomist
- Francesco Antonio Broccu (1797âÂÂ1882), inventor, born in Gadoni, regarded as the first developer of the revolver
- Giuseppe Brotzu (1895âÂÂ1976), pharmacologist, discoverer of cephalosporin based antibiotics, and candidate for the Nobel Prize in Medicine
- Carlo Cercignani (1939âÂÂ2010), physicist and mathematician
- Fausto Cercignani (born 1941), scholar in linguistics
- Enrico Costa (born 1944), astrophysicist, known for studies on the gamma-ray bursts
- Erminio Costa (Cagliari 1924 â Washington 2009), neuroscientist
- Joan de Girgio Vitelli (Alghero 1870 â Rome 1916), lawyer and writer
- Carlo Fadda (1853âÂÂ1931), jurist and politician
- Antonio Fais (1841âÂÂ1925), mathematician and engineer
- Giovanni Francesco Fara (1543âÂÂ1591), geographer and historian
- Walter Ferreri, astronomer
- Gian Luigi Gessa (born 1932), pharmacologist and neuropsychiatrist
- Pier Michele Giagaraccio (16th century AD), jurist, lawyer, and poet
- Paola Leone, neurologist, leader researcher of Canavan disease
- Giovanni Lilliu (1914âÂÂ2012), archeologist, academician, publicist and politician
- Eva Mameli (1886âÂÂ1978), botanist, naturalist and mathematician
- Lidia Mannuzzu (1958âÂÂ2016), biologist, physiologist and academic
- Antonio Pigliaru (1922âÂÂ1969), philosopher
- Salvatore Satta (1902âÂÂ1975), jurist and writer
- Sebastiano Satta (1867âÂÂ1914), poet, writer, lawyer and journalist
- Paolo Savona (born 1936), economist
- Giovanni Soro (died 1544), the Western world first great cryptanalyst; Soro was employed in Venice by the Council of Ten as cipher breaker-in-chief.
- Giovanni Spano (1803âÂÂ1878), linguist and archaeologist
- Nicola Tanda (born 1928) philologist and literary critic
- Pasquale Tola (1800âÂÂ1874), historian, magistrate and politician
Activists
Architects and designers
- Paola Antonelli (born 1963), architect, senior Curator in the Department of Architecture and Design at the Museum of Modern Art in New York
- Carlo Battaglia (1933âÂÂ2005), designer
- Ambra Medda (born 1982) designer, Sardinian mother and Austrian father
- Gaetano Cima (1805âÂÂ1878), Neoclassical architect
- Fernando Clemente (1917âÂÂ1998), architect and urbanist
- Francesco Boffo (1796âÂÂ1867), Neoclassical architect
- Davis Ducart architect of the 18th-century
- Renzo Frau (Cagliari 1880 â 1926), designer
- Flavio Manzoni (born 1965), architect and car designer
- Alessandro Melis (born 1969), architect and writer
- Vico Mossa (1914âÂÂ2003), Architect
- Enzo Satta, urbanist and architect
- Eugenio Tavolara (1901âÂÂ1963), sculptor and designer
Authors
- Milena Agus (born 1955)
- Francesco Alziator (1909âÂÂ1977), writer and journalist
- Antonella Anedda (born 1955), half-Sardinian
- Giulio Angioni (1939âÂÂ2017) writer and anthropologist
- Gerolamo Araolla (1542âÂÂ1615)
- Sergio Atzeni (1952âÂÂ1995)
- Vicente Bacallar Sanna (1669âÂÂ1726)
- Ludovico Baille (1764âÂÂ1839)
- Alberto Capitta (born 1954)
- Fausta Cialente (1898âÂÂ1994)
- Antoni Cossu (1927âÂÂ2002)
- Grazia Deledda (1871âÂÂ1936), winner of the Nobel prize for literature
- Pietro Delitala (middle 16th century â 1613), poet
- Salvatore Farina (1846âÂÂ1918), novelist
- Maria Chessa Lai (1922âÂÂ2012), poet
- Gavino Ledda (born 1938)
- Emilio Lussu (1890âÂÂ1975)
- Francesco Manunta i Baldino (1928âÂÂ1995), poet
- Rita Carla Francesca Monticelli
- Melchiorre Murenu (1803âÂÂ1854)
- Michela Murgia
- Salvatore Niffoi (born 1950), writer
- Rafael Sari (1904âÂÂ1978), poet and writer
- Salvatore Satta (1902âÂÂ1975), writer
- Flavio Soriga (born 1975) writer
- Pasqual Scanu (1908âÂÂ1978)
- Tigellius (1st century BC â 40 BC), lyric poet during the time of Julius Caesar
- Pasquale Tola (1800âÂÂ1874)
- Dolores Turchi (born 1935)
Businessmen
Cinema and TV
Actors and actresses
Filmmakers
Showgirls and fashion models
Police officers
Emanuela Loi
Criminals
Journalists
Mercenaries, soldiers and troops
- Mario Aramu (1900âÂÂ1940), aviator
- Domenico Millelire (1761âÂÂ1827), patriot, navy officer
- Antonio Todde (1889âÂÂ2002), oldest man in the world at the date of his death and the third-oldest military veteran ever
- Efisio Tola (1803âÂÂ1833), patriot
- Justin Tuveri (May 13, 1898 â October 5, 2007), one of the last Italian veterans of the First World War
Musicians and singers
- Giuseppe Anedda (1912âÂÂ1997)
- Bianca Atzei (born 1987)
- Maria Carta
- Collage
- Giovanni Matteo De Candia, operatic singer (tenor), known as Mario
- Mahmood, singer born to a Sardinian mother and an Egyptian father
- Bernardo de Muro, operatic singer (tenor)
- Francesco Demuro
- Roberto Diana (born 1983), musician, guitarist, composer, producer and session man
- La Fossa (rap group)
- Paolo Fresu
- Mariano Garau (born 1952), composer and choral conductor
- Anna Tifu, violinist born to a Sardinian mother and Romanian father
- Luigi Lai
- Elena Ledda
- Bernadette Manca di Nissa
- Franca Masu (born 1962)
- Carmen Melis (1885âÂÂ1967), operatic soprano
- Efisio Melis
- Roberto Meloni
- Salmo (rapper)
- Filomena Moretti, guitarist
- Franco Oppo (1935âÂÂ2016), composer and scholar
- Aldo Piga, music compose
- Marisa Sannia
- Valerio Scanu
- Angelo Sotgiu (born 1946)
- Tazenda
- Tenores di Bitti
Visual artists
Painters, illustrators, photographers, sculptors
- Edina Altara (1898âÂÂ1983), illustrator and painter
- Giuseppe Biasi (1885âÂÂ1945), painter
- Vittore Bocchetta (born 1918), sculptor, painter and academic
- Carlo Chessa (1855âÂÂ1912), painter, printmaker, and illustrator
- Francesco Ciusa (1883âÂÂ1949), sculptor
- Ignazio Fresu (born 1957), sculptor
- Giovanni del Giglio (died 1554), mannerist painter
- Master of Castelsardo (15thâÂÂ16th century), painter
- Francesco Menzio (1899âÂÂ1979), painter
- Costantino Nivola (1911âÂÂ1988), sculptor
- Aligi Sassu (1912âÂÂ2000), sculptor and painter
- Pinuccio Sciola (1942âÂÂ2016), sculptor
- Mario Sironi (1885âÂÂ1961), modernist, painter, sculptor, illustrator, and designer
- Maria Antonietta Tilloca
- Vittoria Valmaggia (1944âÂÂ2009), painter, ceramist sculptor and designer
Cartoonists and comics creators
Politicians
- Francesco Maria Barracu (1885-1945), fascist politician and soldier
- Giuseppe Abozzi (1882âÂÂ1962), socialist
- Hasan Agha (fl. 1532âÂÂ1544), ruler of the Regency of Algiers
- Camillo Bellieni (1893âÂÂ1975), politician, founder of Partito Sardo d'Azione
- Giovanni Maria Angioy (1751âÂÂ1808), politician and patriot
- Gavino Angius (born 1946), senator
- Vicente Bacallar Sanna (1669âÂÂ1726), governor of Cagliari and Gallura, Spanish ambassador
- Benedetta of Cagliari (c. 1194âÂÂ1232/1233),
- Enrico Berlinguer (1922âÂÂ1984), Italian Communist Party leader
- Giovanni Berlinguer (born 1924âÂÂ6 April 2015), member of the European Parliament
- Luigi Berlinguer (born 25 July 1932âÂÂ1 November 2023), Minister of Universities, Science and Technology
- Mario Berlinguer (1891âÂÂ1969)
- Sergio Berlinguer (born 6 May 1934âÂÂ17 October 2021)
- Nanni Campus (born 3 September 1952)
- Francesco Cocco-Ortu (1842âÂÂ1929), minister of the Kingdom of Italy
- Michele Columbu (1914âÂÂ2012), former member of the European Parliament
- Francesco Cossiga (1928âÂÂ2010), former President of the Italian Republic
- Giuseppe Cossiga (born October 30, 1963)
- Bruno Dettori (born 1941), politician
- Oliviero Diliberto (born 1956), Party of Italian Communists leader
- Eleanor of Arborea (1347âÂÂ1404), of Arborea
- Gianfranco Ganau (born 3 March 1955)
- Antonio Gramsci (1891âÂÂ1937), founding member of the Italian Communist Party
- Hugh I of Arborea (1178âÂÂ1211), giudice of Arborea
- Ippolita Ludovisi (1663âÂÂ1733), princess of Piombino
- Emilio Lussu (1890âÂÂ1975), soldier, politician and writer
- Giuseppe Manno (1786âÂÂ1868), magistrate, politician and historian
- Marianus IV of Arborea (1319âÂÂ1376), giudice of Arborea
- Ospitone (6th century AD), chief of people of Barbagia
- Paolo Orano (1875âÂÂ1945), psychologist, politician and writer
- Giuseppe Pisanu (born 1937), former Italian minister
- Edmondo Sanjust di Teulada (1858âÂÂ1936), engineer and politician
- Giuseppe Saragat (1898âÂÂ1988), President of the Italian Republic
- Michele Schirru (1899âÂÂ1931), anarchist who attempted to assassinate Italian dictator Benito Mussolini
- Antonio Segni (1891âÂÂ1972), former President of the Italian Republic
- Mario Segni (born 1939), former member of Italian Parliament and European Parliament
- Adelasia of Torres (1207âÂÂ1259),
Sportspeople
Athletics
Basketball
Bodybuilding
Boxing
Canoeing
Cycling
Equestrianism
Extreme sports
Football
- Simone Aresti (born 1986)
- Nicolò Barella (born 1997), Italian international, European champion 2020
- Salvatore Burrai (born 1987)
- Andrea Cocco (born 1986)
- Alessio Cossu (born 1986)
- Karim Laribi (born 1991), Sardinian mother and Tunisian father
- Andrea Cossu (born 1980), former Italian international
- Enrico Cotza (born 1988)
- Antonello Cuccureddu (born 1949), former Italian international
- Alessandro Farina (born 1979)
- Gianluca Festa (born 1969)
- Michele Fini (born 1974)
- Alessandro Frau (born 1977)
- Salvatore Fresi (born 1973)
- Gustavo Giagnoni (1932âÂÂ2018)
- Nicola Lai (born 1986)
- Valentino Lai (born 1984)
- Marco Mancosu (born 1988)
- Matteo Mancosu (born 1984)
- Giuseppe Materazzi (born 1946)
- Gianfranco Matteoli (born 1959), former Italian international
- Nicola Murru (born 1994)
- Salvatore Pinna (born 1975)
- Francesco Pisano (born 1986)
- Andrea Pisanu (born 1982)
- Marco Sau (born 1987), Italian international
- Salvatore Sirigu (born 1987), Italian international
- Simona Sodini (born 1982), Italian women's international
- Giovanni Solinas (born 1968)
- Pietro Paolo Virdis (born 1957)
- Gianfranco Zola (born 1966), former Italian international
- Jordan Bouah (born 1995), Sardinian mother and Ivorian father
Horse racing
Ice hockey
Modern pentathlon
Motor racing
Rowing
Tennis
Religious figures
- Abraham da Cagliari (8th century), Rabbi
- Ottorino Pietro Alberti (1927âÂÂ2012) Archbishop
- Salvatore Alepus (1503âÂÂ1568), Archbishop
- Luigi Amat di San Filippo e Sorso (1796âÂÂ1878), Cardinal
- Antiochus of Sulcis (died c. 110), Christian martyr
- Hilary the Deacon (mid-4th century)
- Ilario Cao
- Nicholas Congiato (1816âÂÂ1897), Jesuit, President of Santa Clara University
- Justa, Justina and Henedina, Christian martyrs
- Luigi De Magistris, Cardinal
- Giovanni Melis Fois, Prelate of Roman Catholic Church
- Ephysius (250âÂÂ303), Christian martyr
- Eusebius of Vercelli
- Gavinus (4th century), Christian martyr
- Pope Hilarius (died 468), Pope
- Ignatius of Laconi (1701âÂÂ1781)
- Lucifer (4th century), Bishop of Cagliari
- Antonia Mesina (1919âÂÂ1935), martyr
- Carlo Mario Francesco Pompedda (1929âÂÂ2006), Italian cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and the Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura for the Roman Curia
- Riccus (13th century), Archbishop
- Elisabetta Sanna (1788âÂÂ1857)
- Maria Gabriella Sagheddu (1914âÂÂ1939), Saint Beatus
- Pope Symmachus (6th century), Pope
- Joseph Toronto (1818âÂÂ1883), Mormon missionary
- Aloysius Varsi (1830âÂÂ1900)
- Francesco Zirano (1565âÂÂ1603), member of the Order of Friars Minor, beatified in 2014
Notable people of Sardinian descent
- Ettore Pais (1856âÂÂ1939), historian with Sardinian ancestry
- Gustavo Piga (born 1964), economist
- Ambra Medda (born 1982), designer
- Orazio Satta Puliga (1910âÂÂ1974), car designer
- Italo Calvino (1923âÂÂ1985), writer candidate for Nobel Prize in Literature with Sardinian ancestry from mother side
- Cecilia Maria de Candia (1853âÂÂ1926), writer (Sardinian ancestry from father side)
- Goffredo Mameli, patriot and poet, creator of the Italian anthem (born in Genoa by Sardinian father)
- Eric Cantona (born 24 May 1966), French actor and football player with Sardinian ancestry
- Donatella Damiani (born 1958), Sardinian from father side
- Bruce Kirby (1925âÂÂ2021), American actor, Sardinian ancestry
- Bruno Kirby (1949âÂÂ2006), American actor, Sardinian ancestry
- Christopher Meloni, American actor, father from Sardinia
- Fernanda Montenegro (born 1929), Brazilian actress, with Sardinian ancestry from mother's side
- Sean Penn, American actor, Sardinian from mother side
- Bruno Putzulu, French actor, Sardinian ancestry
- Stefano Satta Flores, Sardinian ancestry
- Wally Schirra (1923âÂÂ2007), astronaut with Sardinian ancestry
- Valeria Marini, born in Rome, Sardinian from mother side
- Pamela Prati, Sardinian from mother side
- Virginia Sanjust di Teulada (born 1977), Sardinian from father side
- Adriana Serra (1923âÂÂ1995), actress and Miss Italia 1941 (Sardinian from father side)
- Corrado Augias (born 26 January 1935), Sardinian ancestry
- Mino Carta (born 1933), Sardinian parents
- Jean-Marc Morandini (born 1965), Sardinian from mother side
- Barbara Serra (born 1974), Sardinian from father side
- Efisio Tola (1803âÂÂ1833), patriot
- Graziano Delrio (born 1960), Italian Minister of Infrastructure and Transport with Sardinian ancestry
- Beji Caid Essebsi (1926âÂÂ2019), first democratically elected President of Tunisia (Paternal great-great-grandfather from Sardinia)
- Enrico Letta (born 1966), former Prime Minister of Italy. Sardinian from mother side.
- Jean-Paul Marat (from the father side) (1743âÂÂ1793), politician during the French Revolution
- Giorgia Meloni (born 1977), Prime minister of Italy (Sardinian from father side)
- Juan Domingo Perón (1895âÂÂ1974), President of Argentina (Sardinian descent from father side)
- Silvia Salis (born in Genoa, Sardinian ancestry)
- Luigi Datome (born 1987), professional basketball player with Sardinian ancestry
- Joe Calzaghe, father Enzo from Sardinia
- Nicolino Locche (1939âÂÂ2005), Argentine boxer with Sardinian ancestry
- Duilio Loi, Sardinian from father side
- Graciano Rocchigiani, father Zanubio from Sardinia
- Mattia Aramu (born 1995), Sardinian parents
- Dennis Chessa (born 1992), Sardinian ancestry
- Marco Materazzi, mother from Tempio, father from Arborea, province of Oristano
- Frankie Dettori, born in Milan from Sardinian parents
- Fabio Carta, born in Torino, Sardinian parents
- Andreia Marras (born 1971), Sardinian ancestry
- Alessandro Mahmoud (Mahmood), born in Milan from Sardinian mother
See also
References