Sardinia, land of centenarians: between sea and good wine people live longer

Sardinians live longer. This is not just a popular say, but a scientific truth: the Island, and its Eastern region in particular, hosts an astonishing presence of elderly people who end up blowing out over a hundred candles.

It happens within the small mountainous villages of Ogliastra, where the life flow seems to slow down, the air is fresh and clean, and the daily meal includes always a glass of good wine. This land, that in summer attracts tourists from all over the worlds for its transparent waters and environmental beauty, is home to most of the centenarians of the island, who are also among the oldest people in the world.

Accordingly, the land of Ogliastra, together with the Greek island of Icaria, the Japanese island of Okinawa, the city of Loma Linda in California and the Nicoya peninsula of Costa Rica, was awarded with the tile of “Blue Zone”, the English description for all those areas of the world renown for high longevity rate.
 

Due to its caracteristics, Ogliastra, and its main town of Lanusei, since 2001 has been leading theso-called progeNIA project: a research carried out by national and international scientists and funded by the United States, whose aim is to detect key information by analyzing the units of DNA within a group of over 6000 locals aged between 14-102.

Therefore, if you are still looking for the secret ingredients of the Elixir of long life, there isn’t place more ideal than Ogliastra, that is in fact populated by those who already knew the answer.

Looking for a few days along the Western coast? Take a look at our Hotel Baia Marina.

[Photo-credit: Stale Grut]