The present monumental headquarters of the Cagliari State Archives was inaugurated in 1927 and was one of the first examples of modern archival construction in those years. The origins of the Archives, however, are very old: it was created in 1332 by Alfonso the Benign, King of Aragon, just nine years after the conquistadors landed on the island. Located in the historic district of Castello and inside the Royal Palace, it was intended to exercise functions as the general archives of the Kingdom. Its history is thus closely linked to the political events that saw the city play the role of capital of the Kingdom of Sardinia for centuries, passing through Aragonese, Spanish, Austrian and Piedmontese rule. The preserved documentation reflects the peculiarity of Sardinian history in that the island had its own political, administrative and judicial institutions until the so-called “perfect fusion” with Piedmont in 1847. Up to this period there is a wealth of archival and cartographic documentation of the fortifications of Cagliari and the entire island. After the Unification of Italy, the Archives was gradually enriched with papers from peripheral state offices; it also has a rich notarial record, a collection of parchments and important private archives. Archives from the Aragonese and Spanish periods include theAncient Royal Archives, the Royal Property Office and the Royal Hearing Office; to the Savoy administration belong the Royal Secretariat of State and War, theGeneral Intendancy and the Government and Administrative Acts. Witnessing the post-unification and contemporary period are: Prefecture of Cagliari, High Commission and Regional Council of Sardinia, National Fascist Party, National Liberation Committees, Manifattura Tabacchi. Also of particular importance are the cartographic archives(Royal General Staff Corps, Cagliari Technical Fiscal Office ), the judicial(Cagliari Tribunal and Court of Appeal) and health archives(St. Anthony Abbot and St. John of God Hospital). The Archives is equipped with a study room for the consultation of material, a rich library, and other subsidiary services.
