Luogo - Museum
Compendio Garibaldino di Caprera
Where
La Maddalena (Olbia-Tempio)
The Compendio Garibaldino opened to the
public in 1976 and it is the most visited museum in Sardinia. A large area, set
in the uncontaminated nature of the island, holds the buildings and relics that
belonged to Giuseppe Garibaldi- who lived here during the last 25 years of his
life- or acquired after his death (1882). The main residence is the “casa
bianca” (white house), built in 1856-1857, which is made of seven connecting rooms: atrium, three
bedrooms, study, dining-room and kitchen. One more room was added later, the
“camera della morte” (room of the death), where Garibaldi used to receive his
relatives and friends. Relics of his life when he was a combatant, personal
mementos, objects of Garibaldi and his relatives and the original furniture
recall the daily life of the hero, his last partner Francesca Armosino and
their two sons, Clelia, the elder – who lived here until 1959, when she died-
and Manlio, passionately fond of sea, suddenly dead of tuberculosis when he was
26. The Compendio holds other buildings, too, as the “casa di legno” (wooden
house), the “casa di ferro” (iron house)- that keeps the library of the General
and his lineal descendants- the oil-press, the oven, the stable and the mill,
all built by Garibaldi, his son Menotti and his closest collaborators. In the
middle of the farm is a graveyard, with the granite tomb of the General, his
third wife Francesca Armosino and his sons Manlio, Clelia, Rosa, Anita and
Teresita.