Posted by: Debra Kolkka | August 10, 2012

Caprera, Sardinia….Garibaldi was here

20120528-025320.jpg

Italy’s national hero, and freedom fighter, Garibaldi spent his last years on his farm on the tiny island of Caprera. It is part of the Maddalena Archipelago just off the rugged and windy north coast of Sardinia. He bought half of the island in 1855 and 10 years later some English friends gave him the other half.  With the help of his family he built a self sustaining farm. It must have been a wonderful refuge from his fighting days.

We arrived at the property to find this sign at the entrance.

20120528-033747.jpg

I promise that we were well behaved and we avoided useless misunderstandings.

The guide, who spoke only Italian, very quickly, finally arrived and led us into the open courtyard of the group of houses that make up Garibaldi’s compound. There is a huge tree that Garibaldi planted in 1867 on the birth of one of his children, Clelia.

20120528-034119.jpg

We were taken into the stable where there were lots of reminders of life in Garibaldi’s time there. He was a skilled joiner and blacksmith and his tools are displayed on the walls. His bathtub was here in the stable as it was the warmest part of the house. His beloved horse, Marsala, who died at the age of 30 was buried not far from the house.

20120528-034225.jpg

Then it was time to go into the house, which was built in 1856.

20120528-034303.jpg

I wish I could show you inside but it is not possible because photos are not allowed. It is a pity, as the house was full of wonderful photos, memorabilia and contraptions. Garibaldi was fascinated by new ideas. His kitchen had the first running water in an Italian house.

The most touching room was the large bedroom where he spent his last days. The bed faced the sea and I can imagine him lying there gazing out of the window and possibly contemplating his remarkable adventures. He died here on 2nd June 1882 at the age of 75. On the wall you can see the original calendar that still marks the day he died, and the clock that was stoppd at the time he died: 6.21pm. In the right corner there is a medicine cabinet and, on the table near the bed, there is a cradle used to protect his wounded leg from the weight of the sheets.

There is a fitting monument by Luigi Bistolfi to Garibaldi outside the house. He is looking to the sea.

20120528-040134.jpg

The view is quite good from there.

20120528-040217.jpg

We walked through the gardens to the burial ground where Garibaldi lies with his family, including his last wife Francesca, Teresita, his daughter by Anita (first wife), Anita, a child he had with one of his maids, Rosa (a daughter who died at only 18 months) his son Manilo and his daughter Clelia.

Garibaldi wanted to be cremated, but that was illegal at the time so his body was embalmed and buried under the granite rock.

20120528-040358.jpg

20120528-040418.jpg

The Italian government now owns the property, the only building on the island.

To reach the Caprera, take the ferry from Palau. There is a narrow bridge from La Maddalena to the island.

20120528-110905.jpg


Responses

  1. Love the poorly translated sign! No skimpy dresses! He he. 🙂 I’m off this afternoon to France. Still sick with a cold and my kids aren’t happy with all my travels lately. Oh well. Hope I can keep up with my dad on the mountains! I’ll MIA for awhile and won’t behave much access to reading posts! 🙂 have a nice week!

    • I love these signs too….and they are everywhere. It amazes me that people go to the trouble to translate but don’t ask a native speaker for help.

  2. What a lovely visit you had. Glad you weren’t skimpily dressed with a crash helmet on. 🙂 I always find it disappointing when photos aren’t allowed, but I suppose there must be a good reason.

    • I don’t understand why photos are not allowed in some cases. I can understand no flash because that may cause damage.

  3. With all your Sardinia posts, you have sparked my interest in a future trip. 🙂

    • You have to go, it’s fabulous.

  4. I adore classical sculpture. Italy is know for some of the finest.

    • There are beautiful sculptures all over lovely Italy.

  5. I do love signs with literal translations and thank heavens you managed to maintain your decorum – it was a brief visit, was it?

    • Quite brief fortunately, it is hard to be good for too long.

  6. Beautiful! Thanks Debra!

    • The pleasure was all mine.

  7. Another priceless sign Debra! Hilarious. I hope you weren’t too scantily dressed either…Looks like a great spot to be exiled. I wouldn’t mind a bit!

    • You have to smile don’t you? I am never scantily dressed with good reason.

  8. Hehe I understand many of the rules but do many people go to museums in skimpy clothing? Perhaps they do and I just haven’t noticed! 😛

    • People wear anything anywhere….pity really.

  9. […] great view of Rome, or look in the Rome category for lots more on this gorgeous city, and click here to see where Garibaldi spent his last […]


Leave a Reply

Categories

%d