Gadoni
Gadoni: a small municipality in the Barbagia di Belvì
Hello everyone! Today I will talk about Gadoni, a small municipality in the province of Nuoro, located in the historic region of Barbagia di Belvì. With its 681 inhabitants and its suggestive beauty, Gadoni is an ideal destination for those seeking tranquility and natural beauty to admire. In this text, I will tell you everything you need to know about the physical geography, history, and symbols of the town.
Physical geography
Territory
Gadoni offers a unique variety of landscapes in Barbagia. Starting from the plateau of "Corongia", with a suggestive geological formation similar to the better-known Giara of Gesturi, you can admire the Flumendosa valley, which crosses the feet of the Gennargentu with its spectacular canyons, continuous waterfalls and natural lakes. Moreover, it is possible to admire the mountain "Sa Scova", whose surroundings almost seem lunar thanks to their picture-perfect landscape. Finally, the town also offers a mining area, now renovated and home to an interesting museum.
The air quality in Gadoni is excellent thanks to the constant exposure to the winds and the fact that the town is almost perched on the mountain. From here, you can set off for healthy trekking paths among blackberry bushes and strawberry trees, and immerse yourself in the streams of the territory. Numerous sources of quality water known for centuries are also present.
History
Gadoni has an ancient history that dates back to prenuragic and nuragic Sardinia. During the Roman era, it was part of the "Barbaria" (Barbagia in Sardinian), a region not completely Romanized. The copper mining activity probably dates back to the nuragic era and lasted until 1980. During the Middle Ages, it belonged to the Judicate of Arborea and was part of the curatorship of Barbagia di Meana. In the 14th century, it was merged with the curatorship of Mandrolisai. At the fall of the Judicate in 1410, it passed under the government of the Marchesato di Oristano and after its defeat, it passed under the Aragonese domain, where it was part of the lordship of Barbagia di Belvì.
In 1768, the town was incorporated into the county of Santa Sofia, assigned in feud to Salvatore Lostia. It remained under the Lostia lordship until 1839, when it was redeemed with the abolition of the feudal system. The revaluation of the mines in the after-war periods produced considerable wealth for the inhabitants of the surrounding area, but also caused the partial abandonment of the rich lands present and a consequent loss of the agro-pastoral knowledge that for centuries made the town important for the entire surrounding area.
The type of deposit and the fall of copper quotations caused the gradual abandonment of mining activity, up to the definitive closure of the mines in the 1980s. The subsequent failures of reuse policies of the existing structures created a strong economic discomfort, determining a continuous emigration of residents to the mainland (especially Lombardy, Tuscany, Veneto, Piedmont and Emilia-Romagna) or the coast (Cagliari).
Symbols
The coat of arms and the flag of the municipality of Gadoni were granted by a decree of the President of the Republic on September 12, 2003. The emblem depicts a silver crenellated tower with the door open, a symbol of the protection offered to its inhabitants. In the lower part, a white lily flower with a red head symbolizes the devotion of the Gadonesi to the Virgin, patron saint of the village. The flag consists of a yellow cloth with a red and silver band.
Conclusions
Here's everything you need to know about Gadoni, a charming town in the Barbagia di Belvì, with its nature and its ancient history. If you're looking for a peaceful place to relax, admire breathtaking landscapes and discover Sardinian culture, Gadoni is the ideal destination for you. I hope this text has piqued your curiosity and that you can soon visit this wonderful municipality in Sardinia.
