Loving Sardinia is not so rare, but there are those who go to discover places unknown to most people, study them, photograph them, make videos and then propose them to the internet people who often, even those who live nearby, do not he knows he is surrounded by unparalleled beauties. Gian Luca Barchi and Michele Chiesa, who call themselves " Diversamente Sardi ", 51 year old from Forlì the first, 33 year old from Flero, in Bresciano, the second, have long been touring the island in search of its riches to document what they see and put it in disposition of the next.
They don't make it a job, and there is no profit. “Pure and simple passion - Gian Luca explains to L'Unione Sarda - born a few years ago and which we continue to cultivate with new projects”.
What exactly do you do?
“We visit nuragic sites, sacred wells, tombs of the giants, domus de janas and over time we have perfected. We used to take photos and videos as tourists. We recently had the opportunity to interview Nicola Nite dei Tazenda, the archaeologist Ilaria Montis, the popularizer Pierluigi Montalbano, or even municipal administrators to explore the various local issues. We want to make a contribution to making the many Sardinian realities known because, especially outside the island, many are unaware of their existence ".
What feedback did you get?
"Many people tell us, for example, that they have never known about magnificent archaeological places right behind the house, many others thank us because maybe they can't move and 'travel' with our photographic or video contributions".
Where does the passion for Sardinian culture come from?
“It all started with the music of Tazenda. Michele and I met at a Sardinian party in Cornaredo, near Milan, on the occasion of their concert, and then we decided to go on a summer holiday in Sardinia to follow their tour. In one of these stages we came across the Tuttusoni nuraghe of Aglientu and we were struck by its beauty and unfortunately the state of abandonment. Then it was the turn of Santu Antine, with its majesty. And the nuraghe Losa, the well of Santa Cristina. In short, we have discovered an incredible world ”.
Is there a "magical" place for you?
"Many. To give a name, the Lugherras nuraghe of Paulilatino: it is immersed in a breathtaking landscape, very isolated and difficult to reach with a five-kilometer road that if you meet a car coming from the other direction you are finished and you have to retrace the road backwards in reverse gear. I'm kidding of course, but it's really in a remote place, and perhaps for this reason even more beautiful. Then the Crabia nuraghe in Bauladu, with dry stone walls and sheep grazing nearby. Or the better known well of Santa Cristina in Paulilatino ”.
What should we learn from the nuragics, the ones you are exploring?
“Certainly something more on how to build our homes and buildings in general: factories, offices. Taking into account natural elements that we are forgetting, in a sort of connection and relationship with nature that we have now lost ”.
Ambassadors of Sardinia?
“We don't have an 'archaeological' background so we express ourselves in a simple way, 'how do we eat' they say, right? Our target is the person who discovers these riches for the first time so we try to match our poverty of technical terms and even sometimes inaccuracies with the desire to convey a message: there are realities that are to be physically visited to realize how much they are wonderful ".
Do you believe that Sardinia protects its heritage?
“In the beginning we found various places in a very bad state. But there is a reflection: in many cases these are almost inaccessible areas, yet it would be disastrous to build roads or parking lots. It is difficult to think of undertaking a structured action of tourist presence. Many times we have registered a sort of abandonment, we know that a lot of resources would be needed and also that if there were only 30 places to protect it would all be feasible, but here we are talking about almost 10 thousand sites ".
Music is also an area that fascinates you, have you learned Sardinian?
“If someone speaks it quickly we don't understand, but if there is something to read and those words are in the Tazenda lyrics then yes. When you are passionate about something and you come to understand everything, it happens that sometimes you fall out of love, so it is nice that it remains a veil of mystery. And then, even if you don't understand, another sensation develops: even the terms not understood are transformed into music, becoming a wonderful melody ".
Is there a particular song you are fond of?
“If I have to limit myself to one, I say 'Un alenu' e sole '. I like his message: 'But you, a cloud, you steal a breath of sunshine', 'come you are welcome, light in life'. I have also listened to other Sardinian artists, but so far no one has moved me like Tazenda. But if I have to write a project I put on headphones and go with launeddas or canti a tenore, an example of when the words I don't understand become music ”.
How does it make you feel that two "continental" ones reveal our local beauties?
“Let's say almost normal. Sometimes someone asks me 'did you go to that beach on the Romagna Riviera?', And despite being close to my house I often answer 'no'. Because sometimes it is easier, paradoxically, to know better an area you go to as a tourist than the area you live in. Coming to Sardinia is not taking a road and arriving, you have to use a plane or a ship, and mentally with this you already 'cut off' ".
Are there any food for thought you want to offer?
"Yes, of course. Are you unable to go abroad now due to the well-known health situation? Go to Sardinia which is nearby and you will find many pieces of the world: from the sea to archeology to a history that also belongs to you, even if you are not a native. And then on the island times are slow, you regain spaces in your life. To be evaluated, ironically, whether it is Sardinian slowness or the excessive speed of others ".
Current and future projects?
“At the end of October we will go to Asinara. We will see not only archaeological sites but we will make videos about nature. Then we will publish everything on our Facebook, Instagram and Youtube channels, so as to offer a new 'journey' to those who cannot go there ”.