{"id":11637,"date":"2019-11-21T22:53:19","date_gmt":"2019-11-21T22:53:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/377project.com\/?p=11637"},"modified":"2021-11-28T16:14:01","modified_gmt":"2021-11-28T16:14:01","slug":"348-377-gesico","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/377project.com\/en\/348-377-gesico\/","title":{"rendered":"348\/377: Gesico"},"content":{"rendered":"

INSPIRATION<\/h4>\n
\"Gesico\"
Mural<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I pedal through the hills of the Trexenta<\/strong>, slightly uphill, to then descend to the Rio Mannu<\/strong> (one of the twelve in Sardinia) valley, and enter Gesico crossing the bridge over the river that divides the village in two.<\/p>\n

I do not know why the name of this town reminds me of the Middle East, perhaps the assonance with Jericho, although the probable origin is from the Latin cessicus<\/em>, a territory that was given in concession to some Roman landowners.<\/p>\n

Upon entering the village, I pass the playground and stop in the square where the market is taking place. I buy some apples and sit down to eat one. Today I have no contacts here and no plans.<\/p>\n

I never look up in advance what there is to see in the places I visit, and today, while eating the apple, I search online for some information. Here in Gesico the Snail Festival<\/strong> takes place in October.<\/p>\n

\"Gesico\"
Parish church of Santa Giusta<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Gesico is also known as the “village of the seven churches”. I decide to look for them all. The first is the parish church of Santa Giusta<\/strong>, with an interesting sober Gothic stone facade.<\/p>\n

\"Gesico\"
Alleyway leading to the San Sebastiano Nuragic site<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From here I then head to the outskirts of the village, along a narrow alley that takes me to the Nuragic complex of San Sebastiano<\/strong>. I proceed next to the huge boulders that must have formed the towers and the surrounding wall of the site, and I see the ruins of the church of San Sebastiano<\/strong> built over the central tower of the nuraghe (the same old story of Christianity that tries to obliterate previous pagan cultures.)<\/p>\n

\"Gesico\"
San Sebastiano church ruins<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I cycle back, skirting a small square enriched by some murals, and arrive at the Romanesque church of Santa Maria d\u2019Itria<\/strong>, whose facade is made up of at least three different types of stones.<\/p>\n

\"Gesico\"
Church of Santa Maria d\u2019Itria<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After crossing the Rio Mannu I start looking for the ruins of the church of Santa Lucia<\/strong>, which I find incorporated in a green area in the middle of a residential area of \u200b\u200bmodern houses.<\/p>\n

\"Gesico\"
Santa Lucia church ruins<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From here I head out in the countryside, pedalling for a while until I see the church of San Mauro<\/strong> on the mountain of the same name. It is not that close, and I decide not to go also because the sky is clouding over.<\/p>\n

\"Gesico\"
Church of Sant’Amatore<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So I return to the centre and, before leaving, I cycle along the steps leading to the church of Sant’Amatore<\/strong>, an African bishop exiled to Sardinia and martyred here. Past the cemetery, I walk slowly pedal the slope that leads me to Mandas, where I will be staying tonight.<\/p>\n

But … something doesn’t add up … I only counted six churches, some still active or reduced to ruins. What about the seventh? I discover that it was the church of San Rocco<\/strong>, somewhere inside the village, but it had completely disappeared as early as the nineteenth century.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SOUND FRAGMENTS<\/h4>\n\n