A crossroads of cultural events, food and wine, and fellowship between peoples. This is what the Barbagia Ospitale literary café and grill in Belvì has represented for over thirty years, currently a destination for hundreds of motorcyclists from Northern Europe traveling the Barbagia roads.
At the entrance to the Via Roma restaurant , a Palestinian flag hangs , demonstrating support for owner Bachis Cadau 's cause. And today, two Israeli tourists attempted to lower it : "Late this morning," says Cadau, who is also on the front lines of the local healthcare battle, "a couple of motorcyclists stopped by our restaurant. They dismounted their motorbikes with German license plates, sat on the outside veranda, and immediately expressed their displeasure with the Palestinian flag on display."
And they decided to lower it, attracting the curiosity of those present and the attention of Cadau himself, who, along with the customers, asked for an explanation of their gesture: "They replied that they were proudly Israeli, also showing us a pendant with their flag. A heated but still respectful exchange ensued."
"I explained to them," Cadau continues, "that what is happening in Gaza is surreal and atrocious, with thousands of innocent victims under the weight of the Israeli occupation. But I also made it clear that the innocent Israeli deaths are part of a single system that is generating death and destruction."
"We could have fallen for the two tourists' provocation, but instead we responded professionally, doing our job to the fullest. This is a place open to everyone, as long as there's respect, " the innkeeper specified.
Not only that: "I specified to the two that in our territory, we have always had excellent relations with the Palestine Liberation Organization, thanks to the representative for the island, the late Dr. Nabel, who was Aritzo's medical officer for years ."
Cadau underlined the importance of recognizing the Palestinian state and recalled that "every year at Barbagia Ospitale we commemorate the Shoah."