After nearly seventy years in business, the Floriana bar is closing. The historic establishment on the corner of Piazza Garibaldi and Via Farina, well-known and frequented by generations of Cagliari residents, is ending its long history. Today, customers are served their last coffee, and tomorrow, the shutters will be up . A decision that has matured over time, largely due to the owner's age and the fact that the business hasn't found a fulfilling outcome for the family's career choices. Thus, a place that had become an integral part of the city's history is disappearing.
Floriana Bar opened in 1957 and since 1972 has been run by Gina Murgia, now 83, along with her husband, who passed away in 2012. For decades, the establishment was a landmark for the neighborhood and countless customers, becoming part of the daily memories of entire generations of Cagliari residents. Now, however, the time has come for Gina Murgia to stop. "It's a thoughtful decision, made by me," explains the owner of the historic establishment. "At 83, I no longer feel like continuing. My children have pursued other career paths, and there hasn't been the opportunity to continue the business."
The problem is a common one among many historic family-run businesses: finding someone willing to take over. The closing chapter, however, doesn't involve a change of ownership. The Floriana bar, the owners explain, will not be sold to another operator. With the closure of the business, the name that has been a constant presence in the neighborhood for nearly seventy years will also end. " The Floriana dies here ," is, in essence, the gist of the decision. For the many loyal customers, it will inevitably be a blow. For Cagliari, it's another piece of the city's history gone.
