Barbagia
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| Barbagia | |
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 A view of the mountains aroundNuoro,the main urban center in Barbagia | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Punta La Marmora/Perdas Carpías |
| Elevation | 1,834 m (6,017 ft) |
| Dimensions | |
| Area | 1,300.37 km2(502.08 sq mi) |
| Naming | |
| Native name | |
| Geography | |
 Localisation of the ancient region ofBarbaria(in blue) in relation to the Roman-controlled areas (in yellow)
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| Country | Italy |
Barbagia(Italian:[barˈbaːdʒa];Sardinian:BarbàgiaorBarbàza) is ageographical,culturalandnatural regionof innerSardinia,contained for the most part in theprovince of NuoroandOgliastraand located alongside theGennargentumassif.[1]
The name comes fromCicero,who described the land as inhabited bybarbarians;Roman domination over this part of the island was in fact never more than nominal as a result of theRoman-Sardinian Wars.This word shares its etymology with the now antiquatedBarbary.
TheSardinians,many of whose revolts came from this area, were also mocked by theancient Romanswith the pejorative termlatrones mastrucati'thieves wearing rough woolen garments'.
In 594, PopeGregory the Greatwrote a letter toHospito,a Christian whom he calls the "leader of the Barbaricini" (dux barbaricinorum). Hospito apparently permitted the evangelisation of pagan Barbagia by Christian missionaries.
The area is usually divided into five Barbagias: the Barbagia ofOllolai,theBarbagia of Seulo,theBarbagia of Belvì,theMandrolisai,and finally theBarbagia Trigònia,the historical name by which the area ofOgliastrawas once referred to. The latter two are named after a sub-region, and the others after their main villages.
The area comprises mainly rocky and steep hills and mountains, and there is little human presence. Barbagia is one of the least populated areas in Europe, which has allowed Barbagia to preserve better the island's cultural and natural treasures. According to a thesis by the archaeologistGiovanni Lilliu,Sardinian history has always been characterised by what he called the "constant of Sardinian resistance", opposed to the invaders who attempted at various times to lord over the indigenous inhabitants.[2]Barbagia is one of the few Sardinian regions where theSardinian languagein its own varieties, bothNuoreseandCampidanese,is still spoken on an everyday basis, while the rest of the island has already mostly undergone thoroughItalianizationandlanguage shiftto Italian.
One of the most important villages isGavoi.Orgosolowas famous for its bandits and kidnappers and typicalmurals.Olienais well known for itswines(especially theNepente,a wine made withCannonaugrapes). Another well known town isFonni,the highest town in Sardinia at more than 1,000 meters above sea level. Fonni is also the gateway to the Gennargentu mountain system.
The economy consists of agriculture, sheep breeding, art and tradition related business, tourism and light industry.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Maria Bonaria Urban (1 November 2013).Sardinia on Screen: The Construction of the Sardinian Character in Italian Cinema.Rodopi. pp. 333–.ISBN978-94-012-1001-0.
- ^Lilliu, Giovanni. Antonello Mattone (ed.).La Costante Resistenziale sarda(PDF).Ilisso. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2012-12-24.
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