“Bingiggedda” Square

In Sardinian, the name of this large, recently restored square means “small vineyard”, a clear sign that in the past, before it was incorporated by the expansion of the town centre, the area was dedicated to growing grapes. Up until the mid-nineteenth century, it was still the seat of the first village cemetery. Up until the seventies, it was still an unnamed dirt road with a steep slope, along which climbed a narrow path that linked the central Via Orientale Sarda to the underlying Via Pedra Niedda. In the eighties, a massive urban redevelopment led to the creation of huge reinforced walls, built on various levels, and the construction of sets of stairs, which allowed the square to be used fully by the population, which began to perceive it as a real square and the hub of important social events. Bingiggedda Square is also home to the weekly market that, every Wednesday as usual, became the favoured destination of the village’s housewives. Having become the mountain community’s beating heart for popular events (also thanks to the large tier of seats built on the north side a few years ago), Bingiggedda comes alive during the most popular Baunesis holidays, both in winter and in summer.

In January, during the feastival of St. Anthony, there is a huge bonfire in honour of the hermit who, according to tradition, gave fire to mankind, after having stolen it from the underworld. In the days preceding the festival, held on 17 January (although it has been split for a number of years, with the bonfire also being lit at Santa Maria Navarrese), the organising committee works to create a large pile of branches and timber. The night of the festival, at sunset, after the pile is blessed by the parish priest, it is set on fire. Everyone present is given red wine and “paniscedda” (bread seasoned with almonds, raisins and “binu cottu”, must that is cooked until it becomes a sweet liquid), which provides a fitting atmosphere for the festivities.

In late July, Bingiggedda Square turns into the headquarters of the three days of festivities traditionally organised by the young bachelors of the village, in honour of St. Antioco, which in these parts is considered the patron saint of “bagadìus” (meaning “bachelors”, in Sardinian).

Since 2003, also at the end of July, Piazza Bingiggedda is the setting for the “Sagra della carne di maialetto” (“Festival of suckling pig meat), a true specialty of the mountain village, where the breeding of pigs in the wild is still widespread.