«How much do I spend on my bill? 130 euros, for one month and twenty days». Ignazio Spiga is the owner of the most sparkling house in Sardinia for the Christmas holidays: the switching on of tens of thousands of LED lights for the illuminations in via Margotti, in Senorbì , has now become a ritual attended by dozens of onlookers. And many then go to the village to admire the show.
"Enel thanks you", is often the ironic comment. Actually, not so much. Because the cost of the operation is far from high. Spiga works in the photovoltaic panels and public lighting sector. He is keen to clarify: «There is no advertising intent». And we have to believe him: he is shy, before being persuaded to speak.
«I really do it for pleasure» , explains the entrepreneur from the headquarters of his company, «it's nice to see happy children when the house is lit up. We keep it lit from November 25th to after the Epiphany. And thanks to photovoltaic panels and low-consumption light bulbs, spending is very low».
A lesson for many Municipalities which are currently deciding whether and for how many hours to turn on the lights: «We have just decorated the square of a town near Senorbì», adds Spiga, «the cost for the Town Hall will be just over 50 EUR. With some precautions it can be done ».
His is indeed a vocation. In recent years, for three Christmas holidays he had illuminated the basilica of Bonaria in Cagliari. "All for free, I felt I had to do it." A gift to the city. And this year? "Maybe".
Henry Fresu