Ciao, people of Hive!
Today I want to show you some glimpses of authentic Sardinian culture and, at the same time, a wonderful story of human resilience that expresses very well the stubborn love that Sardinians feel for their island, their roots and their identity.
This story is related to a medieval village named Tratalias, that I reached with my bicycle last April.
After enduring tragic floods since 1954 to 1971, its residents were forced to abandon their village and seek refuge in a higher and safer area not far away. There, they built a new town and a new life: but they weren't able to forget their past.
For this reason, even 50 years later, they are still taking care of their old houses, their properties and even the ancient church. Doing so, they made their previous village a great open-air museum.
This is probably how the village appeared 200 or 300 years ago. Just imagine little children playing on the streets, women with long shawls, men returning from the fields...
This church was built in 1213. Even today, it remains one of the oldest and most important Romanesque-style churches in Sardinia.
In Middle Ages, these small houses were likely intended for pilgrims who arrived to visit the cathedral.
Nowadays, some houses still belong to private individuals. Others have been transferred to the Municipality (due to a lack of living heirs) and are now part of some conservation projects. There are also a bar, a museum and some artisan shops. Some villagers have decided to open their houses to visitors, allowing them to explore and learn about what remains of their happy past, which is also a precious testimonial of a time that will never come back.
S'omu de cĆa Crara means, in Sardinian language, the house of aunt Clara. This 1800s-style furniture has been passed down from generation to generation until today.
Presepe trataliese
A local artisan decided to devote his house to a huge Christmas nativity scene.
Its uniqueness lies in the fact that each doll wears the typical traditional costume of the village of Tratalias, as was common in Sardinia until a few decades ago.
It becomes an exceptional reenactment of the life on this island in past centuries.
Even though the nativity scene is generally associated with Christmas, this particular house can be visited throughout the year. You'll always find some people here, especially elderly ones, ready to share their traditions or their memories about the flood... which of course swept away their childhood, but couldn't take away their dignity and love for the place they call home.
š Thank you for being here, for reading my articles and for supporting me. It's a pleasure to be part of this community š
See you on the road!
Alessandro