Do you know what is “Sa Murra” play?

Two of my images have recently been recognized as “Awarded Photography” in the 1x.com site. The Sardinian game of murra has always captured my imagination, and this past August, I finally had the chance to witness a Murra championship in Sardinia. For me, this marks the beginning of an intriguing project that explores identity, a sense of belonging, and the intelligence of the people who transformed this once-prohibited game into an element of UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage.

Morra is played in various regions of Italy and in some countries around the world. In Sardinia—where it is known as “Sa murra”—it represents a profound symbol of cultural identity and community social life.

It is actually a very ancient game; there are records of it in Greece and Rome (where it was called micatio). It was once banned due to the illegal betting it fostered. In some places (particularly Sardinia), it survived and was ultimately recognized by UNESCO in 2023 as Intangible Cultural Heritage. I am aware that international championships are now also taking place. Tournaments in Sardinia take on a theatrical quality, often held in a ring-like setting complete with tiered seating and an audience.

Two players simultaneously show a hand with a certain number of extended fingers (from 0 to 5) and loudly shout their prediction regarding the total sum of the fingers shown by both.