Bringing comfort on a “sad day” for the dealers at the San Benedetto market in Cagliari are the many people from Cagliari who have been crowding the aisles and stalls of delicatessen, meat, fruit and vegetables, fish, bread and sweets since 8am. “It’s a shame that we won’t be able to come here for a while, but when we return, San Benedetto will be a more modern place. In the meantime, we’ll continue to shop in the other one, when it opens,” says Anna Rita Soddu in front of a box of artichokes. “I would have taken ten, but let’s make it fifteen since we won’t see each other for a while.”
March 1, 2025: it is immediately clear that this is not just any Saturday in San Benedetto. It is a historic day for Cagliari. But also "a sad day", say the concessionaires in the garages. After more than 65 years, the San Benedetto market is closing for renovations . Much more than a local market, for those who do not know it, a place that is part of the identity of Cagliari and the people of Cagliari. During the summer season, San Benedetto is the largest covered market in Europe and is crowded with tourists. It is closing for two years ("let's hope not more"): the Municipality has over 40 million euros to completely remake it.
The company in charge of the move will enter San Benedetto this evening to begin sanitizing the materials (scales, crates, various work tools) that will then be taken to the temporary structure in Piazza Nazzari. Then the move will begin on Tuesday: the inauguration is scheduled for March 18. "After so many years we are leaving, I still find it hard to believe. We hope that in the temporary market we can work without difficulty", says Maurizio Piombini, fish stall.
There is concern among the boxers: "I've been here for twenty years, almost half my life. It's hard to leave, there's so much worry. Because there are so many unknowns", explains Luigi Lazar, a delicatessen stall. There are also those who can't hold back their tears: "I've put everything in here, money, effort, sacrifices, commitment", says Rita Bettocchi, very famous in the aisles of San Benedetto for her pumpkin and amaretto ravioli. " Let's go and enter the temporary market in Piazza Nazzari where even today, 17 days before opening, I still lack the kilowatts needed to continue working ".
The anguish of the 154 concession holders in San Benedetto is understandable. "We will also come to the temporary market," reassures Mrs. Laura. At the end of the morning, down among the fish stalls, the concessionaires organize a party to say goodbye to customers with Prosecco and pizzas. "Let's try to be optimistic," says Oreste Tuveri, a historic fruit and vegetable stall. " This is the beginning of a new challenge. It's not a goodbye, it's just a see you later ."