In November the engineer from Nuoro Sebastiano Maccioni will turn 106, but he didn't want to miss the birthday date of his 'little brother' Antonio, in Cagliari, who turned 102. A photo shows them together while they celebrate, strong in Barbagia genetics and temperament, in an area of Sardinia included, together with Ogliastra, among the five Blue Zones of the world, the areas with very high percentages of centenarians and over centenarians.
Four degrees between them: Sebastiano in mathematics and engineering, Antonio in chemistry and pharmacy, they have always lived side by side even if 180 kilometers apart.
"I went down to Cagliari for my little brother's birthday, so I always called him - jokes Maccioni from his home in Nuoro -. We also gathered our children and our grandchildren and celebrated. Antonio is quite well but despite being smaller he moves less than me, I'm a runner although much less now. In Nuoro we say 'cada cavaddu runnere torrat a runzinu' (every racehorse returns to a nag with age, ed.)".
Sebastiano and Antonio are the two survivors of eight children of a farming family.
Antonio was dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy in Cagliari for 24 years.
Now Sebastiano, who never wanted to leave Nuoro despite his four children scattered between Cagliari and the peninsula, lives alone, goes out with friends and is still self-sufficient.
"I prepare the yogurt myself which I consume early in the morning, then some friends come by and we go to the bar to have a chat until I come home mid-morning and eat some fruit - he tells ANSA -. For for lunch and dinner I prepare very simple meals and I try to eat a bit of everything but always little. My passion is reading and I do it every day: I devour books and newspapers, I keep myself informed and train my mind."
Until two years ago he was still driving, for a few months he has no longer driven due to the cataract that bothers him: "You know, I consider myself very lucky for the life I have led - he confesses - I was born on 4 November 1918, a few hours after the signature of the armistice that put an end to the First World War, but I was registered at the registry office only on November 9. All of Italy celebrated the news for days, as did the four employees of the municipality of Nuoro who did not open their offices until 9.
I did the work I liked, designing bridges and roads, I have four children and three grandchildren who we see whenever we can."
The two brothers, their children and grandchildren will all meet together again in Cagliari for Easter.
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