The Sardinia Village Founded by Greeks of Mani

The colony of Montresta successful Sardinia. Credit: sardegnaturismo

The colony of Montresta successful Sardinia was founded by Greeks from the Mani peninsula, Peloponnese successful 1750.

The colony is successful the Province of Oristano and is located astir 140 kilometers (87 miles) northwest of Cagliari.

As Ioannis Korinthios, a lecturer successful Modern Greek Studies astatine the University of Calabria and a salient subordinate of the Greek diaspora, explained, Montresta “owes its roots and humanities individuality to the exodus and dispersal of the radical of Mani, which started successful 1676.”

Maniots had a estimation arsenic fierce, proudly autarkic warriors who practiced piracy and humor feuds. For the astir part, the Maniots lived successful fortified villages (and “house-towers”) wherever they defended their lands against the armies of William II Villehardouin and the Ottoman Empire.

Korinthios told Greek Reporter that, defeated by the Ottoman Turks successful 1669, 730 Maniates, successful consultation with the Genoese, near Mani and recovered refuge and extortion successful Genoa. They were led by the Stephanopoulos household and the bishop of Itilo, Parthenios Kalkandis.

Many, including monks and nuns, past dispersed to Corsica. The Greeks were fixed a adust and arid determination connected the island, which looked amazingly similar Mani; the migrants named it Paomia. It was located 4 km (2.5 miles) eastbound of today’s colony of Cargèse.

Greeks of Mani determination to Sardinia

The colony is successful the Province of Oristano and is located astir 140 kilometers (87 miles) northwest of Cagliari. Credit: Discover Italy

However, arsenic Korinthios explained, things got precise pugnacious for the Greeks successful Corsica.

When the radical of Corsica revolted against the regularisation of Genoa successful 1731, the Greeks adopted a neutral stance retired of gratitude to the Genoese who had helped them. This led to retaliation by the rebels.

Korinthios, whose passionateness for the Greek language was instrumental successful convincing Athens to motorboat International Greek Language Day successful 2017, said that “for 50 years they suffered uprooting and relocation until they were allowed to settee successful their caller colony of Cargeze.”

Korinithios added: “But, respective families opted to determination to Sardinia and found themselves successful the colony of Montresta, which they themselves founded astir 1750.”

The Maniots person left, but today, assorted elements of architecture and crafts, including handbasket making, are reminiscent of Greek art.