Meet Bernard Baghioni, shepherd in Santa Lucia di Mercoriu +Added to my favoriteItem already present

Bernard is born-and-bred Boziu. Coming from a family of eight children, he grew up here, works here and has lived here all his life. Deeply attached to his homeland, this 57-year-old shepherd is an extremely endearing character.

“At the age of three, I ran away from my parents’ home to go and see the flock of ewes; I believe that my calling as a shepherd came at that moment!”

Bernard’s daily life centres around a flock of 70 ewes that he treats every day, manually, one by one.

“I set up my shed in 2000 in Santa Lucia di Mercoriu, and there was neither electricity nor running water. It was difficult, but my stubbornness helped me overcome all the problems I encountered. For I wouldn’t leave my homeland for anything in the world!”

Boziu, once extremely rich in agricultural terms (vineyards, olive groves, chestnut groves, wheat and lentils) has gradually been depopulated like elsewhere, but there are still some good initiatives to highlight:

“Young people are returning to settle in the village, open guest rooms and offer quality food with local products. The local economy also involves the presence of some artisans invested in the region. The Mare a Mare trail that passes through our villages is also a lifeline that promotes rural tourism.”

Bernard gives us some ideas - tips for a weekend or a few days of holiday in his area:

“You won’t be bored spending your holiday here: every day there are new walks and new products to taste, and each season brings different colours – the landscape is never the same.

“Boziu enjoys a privileged environment: a rich built heritage (“pagliaghji”, character houses), and an important religious heritage with the listed church of San Niculau de Sermanu, unique in Europe thanks to its frescoes and its 12th-century pediment. There are also many fountains to admire, in all seasons, during walks with family.”

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