From an idea of promoting the territory that sees the Isolarte Association and the Municipality of Tuili working together, with the collaboration of the Altopiano della Giara Foundation and the Region, tomorrow, Friday 27 December, at 5 pm, the nineteenth-century residence Villa Asquer in Tuili will host the second edition of the Cavallino della Giara Special Award with prestigious guests: Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Don Backy, Sergio Frau, General Gian Gabriele Carta and Carola Puddu.
In addition to the awards ceremony, visitors will be able to explore the museums of Tuili, take part in excursions and taste the local food and wine excellences (at 7:30 pm), exhibited at Villa Asquer thanks to the collaboration with local producers.
A tribute to the endemic ponies
Conceived by Maurizio Porcelli, the project aims to enhance the environmental and landscape resources of the area, promoting the Giara at a national and international level through the participation of important personalities.
The award is dedicated to the wild horses that live on the Giara Plateau, unique for their physical and character traits. These small equines, about one meter and twenty centimeters tall at the withers, are famous for their black or dark bay coat, thick mane and lively almond-shaped eyes.
Today there are about 600 of them, owned by the Sardinia Region since 1996. They live free in an area that also extends to the municipalities of Genoni, Gesturi and Setzu, while the SIC area includes a total of eleven municipalities (Albagiara, Assolo, Genoni, Genuri, Gesturi, Gonnosnò, Nuragus, Nureci, Setzu, Sini, Tuili). Here nature acts as mother and guardian: the steep slopes of the Giara protect the ponies, preventing them from moving away from the territory. Rebellious and proud, they curiously welcome the tourists who come every year to admire them.
They are among the rare wild horses left in Europe, a symbol of a delicate balance in a rapidly changing ecosystem. For this reason, the path of protection and enhancement undertaken in recent years is essential to preserve their authenticity.
The Project
The Isolarte Association, active for years in the promotion of Sardinian culture, has included the Cavallino della Giara Award within a larger cultural container, the Amedeo Nazzari Award. The latter celebrates the bond between the famous actor and this unique portion of Sardinia, attracting illustrious names from the worlds of cinema, art and culture.
The goal is to create a network of events that enhance the creativity of the island and of those who have adopted Sardinia as a second home. The common thread is a narrative that intertwines past, present and future through the voices of the protagonists.
The Winners
The stars of the gala evening, hosted by TG1 deputy director Incoronata Boccia, will be:
Maria Grazia Cucinotta : Sicilian actress and film producer, awarded in homage to Amedeo Nazzari for his contribution to Italian and international cinema. Famous for her role in the film “Il Postino”, she has expanded her career by becoming one of the most appreciated producers.
Don Backy : legendary 85-year-old singer-songwriter, awarded for his musical career. With twenty 33s under his belt and countless successful singles, Don Backy has recently released his latest album “Pianeta Donna” and before his award ceremony he will sing, in addition to his timeless melodies, some new works that he is taking on tour throughout Italy. He recently released the album Pianeta Donna and continues to perform on tour.
He is also scheduled to perform at 6.30 pm.
Sergio Frau : the Lifetime Achievement Award for journalism and dissemination of Nuragic civilization will go to him, a leading signature at the daily newspaper La Repubblica since 1976, for which, after having edited various supplements, he is a correspondent for cultural issues. Originally from Cagliari and Lombardy, he is also the author of the famous essay “Le Colonne d'Ercole”, where he hypothesized new interpretations on the origin of Nuragic civilization and the myth of Atlantis.
General Gian Gabriele Carta : General of the Army Corps, 30th commander of the Sassari Brigade and president of the Anac Section of Sardinia. For him the career award because he is a great expert of the equine breed, who has dedicated a large part of his second life to this sector. Many will remember him for having been an enlightened president of the Cagliari Hippodrome and for the many successes achieved during an extraordinary military career.
Carola Puddu : The talent award will be given to a new star of dance, the dancer Carola Puddu, born in 2000, who became famous to the general public in 2021 by entering Maria De Filippi's "Amici" school where, thanks to the precious teachings of the teacher Alessandra Celentano, she managed to access the final phase. Upon her exit from the program, given her extraordinary preparation and artistic maturity, she was offered the prestigious role of Juliet in the famous ballet Romeo and Juliet by Fabrizio Monteverde, curated by the Balletto di Roma. The rest is history.