💕Special thread about the most romantic Sardinian song, written in 1915 by Salvatore Sini.💕
A Diosa (also known as Non potho reposare, from the first line of the text) was written by Salvatore 'Badore' Sini, a lawyer and poet from Sarule, in the area of Nuoro. The very first version was written in 1915, year in which Italy entered WWI. It was the period in which-
-the youth were beginning to leave their homes for the war. A Diosa talks about the struggles of staying away from the beloved person and it relates to the general feeling of leaving for the war. In fact, the very first representation was sung in the occasion of the departure-
-of soldiers.
Local sources say that Badore Sini, a shepherd turned lawyer, fell in love with a neighbour but the woman was already married and he could only love her in spirit, from afar.
The poem was turned into music little time later by Giuseppe Rachel, musician from-
-Cagliari who was working as director of the orchestra of Nuoro. The composition of the poem and the song was done in the period in which Nuoro became one of the most artistic and culturally active towns of Sardinia.
The song has been sung afterwards by many Sardinian singers-
-and groups, from Maria Carta, to Tazenda and Andrea Parodi, to the local choirs of Nuoro and other towns, becoming one of the most famous and representative songs of the Island.
In the pictures, you can find the original text of the poem with its English translation. The text-
-of the song might vary a little.
The title, "A Diosa", is interpreted as a dedication to the loved one, imagined as a goddess, and derives from the Spanish verb "endiosar". Sini also wrote a poem as the woman's reply, entitled "A Diosu".
The song has been performed also-
-by non Sardinians as a tribute to the Island.
Here are two versions: in link, the version of Andrea Parodi; in QT the version of the choirs of Nuoro.
📜Extemporary thread about the art of poetry in Sardinia, especially the poetic contests 🎶
Oral tradition in Sardinia has always been a strong component of the conservation of memory. Most people were illiterate, but they could still create poetry. This is a particular characteristic of shepherds, which also relates to the traditional singing technique.
A tradition that remained for long in Sardinia is that of poetic contests. People (usually men, but also women could make poetry) would challenge each other in improvised rhymes centering a topic. They could be 2 people, or 4, or more. Poetic contests were typical of village -
Thread about, you guessed it, the festival of Saint Antiochus, patron of Sardinia.
Antiochus was born in North Africa and was likely a doctor. He was raised in the Christian faith, in a period in which Romans still persecuted Christians. The hagiography says he was pretty vocal about his faith and for this reason the Roman governors tried to kill him, -
-eventually forcing him at sea on a boat. This boat is said to have reached the Sardinian island of Sulci (today, Sant'Antioco), where Antiochus carried on his preaching. He was found by the Romans again, who sentenced him to death, but Antiochus miraculously and peacefully died-
🌊 Thread about the archaeological remains of an important centre of Punic and Roman Sardinia. 🌊
Nora is located in the South Sardinia, today in the municipality of Pula, at close distance from Cagliari. It is famous for being the site of the martyrdom of Sant'Efisio and back in the day, it was probably even more important than Karales (Cagliari).
The archaeological site was known already in the 16th century but it was mostly covered by the sand. In the 19th century, a strong sea-storm uncovered part of the mosaics, arising interest and leading to a series of excavations that revealed what was underground.
✨Today is the launch day of SONG AMONG THE RUINS!✨
My little YA historical gothic book set in Sardinia officially releases today (Amazon link below ⬇️). So, I wanted to say a couple of words.
As you might know by now, the main setting is Cuglieri, a village in the Montiferru. Today is the 1st anniversary of the fire that burned down large part of the forest and destroyed the millennial oleaster. Exactly one year ago, I was preparing to begin-
-drafting when this all happened. I am now working on the Italian translation of the book, for which I have different plans regarding publication, but in one way or another it will be out eventually.
Thread about the still surviving and recognisable castles of the Middle Age.
Sardinia had a different medieval history than the rest of Europe. By the 1000s, we had 4 different kingdoms, likely born from the division of an original single entity. The subdivision meant also a different kind of local administration. Differently than the rest of Europe, -
-castles in Sardinia developed along the confines of the kingdoms (as watchtowers towards the neighbours) and not in the countryside as a creation of a local feudal power. This means castles are relatively few (~120 in the whole Island for ~350 towns/villages).