2. Discovering Loculi

The little Franca, driven by an irresistible and unrestrained curiosity, climbs the stairs of Sa Domo de Sas Artes e de Sos Mestieris. This is a multi-level manorial complex located on Via Maroncelli, built between the late 18th century and the early decades of the 19th century. Today, it’s fully renovated and serves as a museum center and multifunctional hub, representing an important synthesis of architectural and construction heritage, a reflection of the typical local agropastoral culture.

Inside, amidst the white walls and warm tones of the floors and traditional reed ceiling, it houses the reportage “Africa at Home,” conducted by photojournalist Carlo Bavagnoli and accompanied by journalist Livio Zanetti for “l’Espresso” in 1959. This significant investigation is the first undertaken by the newspaper in the context of a parliamentary inquiry committee established to address the issue of extreme poverty in southern Italy.

The 60 photographs are a highly representative fragment of the historical memory of the area, capturing the towns of Loculi, Irgoli, and Onifai. Through impactful images, they encapsulate the extreme poverty and, at the same time, dignity of a Sardinia still deeply rooted in an agricultural and pastoral dimension. The photos portray a moment of important historical transition. The subjects depicted are primarily children and young adults, but also women engaged in domestic chores, elderly individuals seated motionless along stone walls, and men of various ages captured in moments of work pause.