Elixir of life

Visit the center of Tiana in Barbagia, a town of less than 1000 inhabitants, entered in the Guinness Book of Records for being the birthplace of several centenarians including the oldest man in the world (113 years old in 2003). The expert guide will take you to discover the village and will accompany you on an excursion in the dense woods of holm oaks, crossed by springs and waterfalls, along the paths of the centenarians to discover the secrets of longevity. In fact, Tiana is one of the places that makes up the Sardinian Blue Zone.

Also in Tiana you will visit the hydraulic energy system (ancient water mills and fulling mills) which is a real jewel of the area. You will be shown the vegetable dyeing practices for coloring wool. Then move on to the nearby town of Tonara to visit the workshop where the cowbells for livestock are handcrafted.

Dedicate the second day to the town of Aritzo for a guided tour of the town where the main sites of both monumental and ethnographic interest will be highlighted, namely the old Spanish prisons, the parish church, the Arangino castle, the Devilla manor house , the various murals. This itinerary includes the numerous fountains and springs that have made Aritzo famous throughout the island for the quality of its water together with the freshness of the air. The water cycle, to which this excursion is dedicated, finds a significant moment in the traditional production of carapigna, a sorbet obtained for centuries from the transformation of snow and sold throughout Sardinia. Precisely the creation and tasting of this ancient ice cream will close the excursion aimed at reviving in those who choose this experience the practices and knowledge that have characterized mountain communities over time.

Then visit a Barbagia sheepfold where you will be shown the production of various types of cheese and ricotta according to traditional techniques. Conclude with a taste of the dairy products.

On the third and last day, treat yourself to an excursion along the characteristic fluvial landscape of the Flumendosa (Aritzo/Gadoni) through a mountain area marked by the presence of shepherds, ancient springs, sheep tracks for transhumance, open-air summer sheepfolds. You will stop at the natural pools in Geldesi, Nolcui, Arredelus and/or Sa Stiddiosa and enjoy an outdoor lunch with typical local products.