Giampaolo Masserano

Unfortunately, this beach (like many others in the Sinis region) is experiencing a dramatic situation: a massive and partly inexplicable mosquito invasion, which is impacting not only the quality of life of locals but also severely impacting tourism. Spending even a few minutes on one of these beaches means being attacked by hundreds of hungry insects (and, in my opinion, larger than common mosquitoes). Besides the inconvenience of constantly having to swat them away, there is a real health risk because some of them can carry "Western Nile Fever," a disease that in some cases (fortunately very rare) can have serious consequences for the elderly or immunocompromised. One of the likely triggers of this phenomenon is the presence, after a strong storm in recent months, of tons of Posidonia oceanica that have settled on the shoreline and are difficult to remove. On still-warm autumn days, this damp, rotting carpet is the ideal environment for the proliferation of insects. My visit took place from December 12th to 15th, and given the time of year, I didn't expect to encounter a similar situation (which I hadn't encountered in the previous two years). I assure you, taking some photos was very difficult. The municipalities of Oristano and Cabras have implemented extensive disinfestation operations, which appear to have been successful: in Cabras (despite being surrounded by lagoons), mosquitoes are virtually non-existent, while their presence is massive on the beaches. Anyone wishing to delve deeper into the topic or who has understandable doubts about what I've written should consult the local press and TV reports.

Unfortunately, this beach (like many others in the Sinis region) is experiencing a dramatic situation: a massive and partly inexplicable mosquito invasion, which is impacting not only the quality of life of locals but also severely impacting tourism. Spending even a few minutes on one of these beaches means being attacked by hundreds of hungry insects (and, in my opinion, larger than common mosquitoes). Besides the inconvenience of constantly having to swat them away, there is a real health risk because some of them can carry "Western Nile Fever," a disease that in some cases (fortunately very rare) can have serious consequences for the elderly or immunocompromised. One of the likely triggers of this phenomenon is the presence, after a strong storm in recent months, of tons of Posidonia oceanica that have settled on the shoreline and are difficult to remove. On still-warm autumn days, this damp, rotting carpet is the ideal environment for the proliferation of insects. My visit took place from December 12th to 15th, and given the time of year, I didn't expect to encounter a similar situation (which I hadn't encountered in the previous two years). I assure you, taking some photos was very difficult. The municipalities of Oristano and Cabras have implemented extensive disinfestation operations, which appear to have been successful: in Cabras (despite being surrounded by lagoons), mosquitoes are virtually non-existent, while their presence is massive on the beaches. Anyone wishing to delve deeper into the topic or who has understandable doubts about what I've written should consult the local press and TV reports.

The mountain at top left is Monviso, known as the "Stone King." From its 3,841-meter height, it dominates the surrounding valleys and the entire Piedmont plain.

Not far from Turin stands the "Stupinigi Hunting Lodge", surrounded by an immense park. Built by the Savoys, it is part of what is known as the "Crown of Delights," meaning all the Savoy residences in Piedmont.

The Sacra di San Michele is one of the oldest monuments in Piedmont. The first chapel dates back to the 4th century AD, and many other spaces were added over the following centuries, culminating in the current structure. It is (along with the Basilica of Superga and the Mole Antonelliana) one of the three symbolic monuments of the province of Turin. A curiosity: If you draw a straight line southeast from Skellig Michael (Skellig Islands, Ireland), you'll intersect with extraordinary precision other places consecrated to the Saint (St. Michael's Mount in Cornwall, Mont-Saint-Michel in France, Sacra di San Michele and Monte Sant'Angelo in Italy, Monastery of St. Michael in Greece), after which the straight line reaches Jerusalem exactly... According to legend, the "Sacred Line of Saint Michael" was traced by the sword thrust the Saint inflicted on the Devil to send him back to hell. The cult of the Saint, of Eastern origin, spread to the West thanks primarily to Emperor Constantine, who in 313 AD built a basilica dedicated to the Archangel in Constantinople.