Certamente\! Ecco l’articolo tradotto in inglese, con il codice sorgente HTML lasciato inalterato.
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Introduction
The 19th century in Italy was a period of profound social and penal transformations, characterized by the emergence of new philosophies on crime management and the reorganization of the prison system. In this context, agricultural penal colonies took on a significant role, representing an innovative approach to the execution of sentences, particularly for those condemned to “forced labor.” Sardinia, with its vast uncultivated and unhealthy areas, became fertile ground for experimenting with this model. Among these, the Castiadas Penal Colony stood out for its size, establishing itself as the largest in Italy.
Foundation and Objectives: A Reclamation and Social Reform Project
The genesis of the Castiadas Penal Colony has its roots in the second half of the 19th century, when the Italian Ministry of the Interior decreed its establishment in 1875. The founding act took place on August 11, 1875, with the landing of the first thirty detainees and seven guards in Porto Sinzias, led by Eugenio Cicognani. The primary objectives of the colony were intrinsically linked and reflected a state vision that combined punitive necessity with territorial development: the reclamation and rehabilitation of a vast marshy and unhealthy territory.
Table 1: Essential Chronology of the Castiadas Penal Colony
| Year | Key Event |
|---|---|
| 1875 | Establishment of the Penal Colony by the Ministry of the Interior. Landing of the first 30 detainees and 7 guards in Porto Sinzias (August 11), led by Eugenio Cicognani. |
| 1876 | Beginning of construction work on the main buildings. The colony already hosts about 300 detainees. |
| 1877 | Construction of the administration wing of the former penal colony. |
| 1912 | Completion of construction work on the main buildings. |
| 1933 | Beginning of a series of events related to the ownership of the Colony’s territories. |
| 1952 | The Penal Colony definitively ceases to exist according to some attestations. |
| 1953 | Transfer of ownership of the territories to ETFAS (Ente di Trasformazione Fondiaria Agraria della Sardegna – Agricultural Land Transformation Agency of Sardinia). |
| 1952-1955 | The Ministry of the Interior decides on the definitive closure of the Colony and the transfer of detainees. |
| 1955 | The structure hosted thousands of convicts until this year. |
| 1956 | The colony is definitively closed. |
| 1985 | Castiadas becomes an autonomous municipality through a referendum. |
| Today | The former colony is a Museum of the Territory and a site of cultural recovery. |
Development and Structure: The Self-Sufficient “Citadel”
From its humble beginnings with only 30 detainees, the Castiadas Penal Colony experienced exponential growth. At its peak, the colony housed over two thousand people, including not only detainees but also custodial officers, employees, and their families, consolidating its reputation as the largest penal colony in Italy. Castiadas rapidly developed into a true self-sufficient “citadel,” a monumental complex built primarily with locally extracted granite and limestone.
Table 2: Main Productive Activities and Infrastructures of the Penal Colony
| Category | Activity/Infrastructure | Description/Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Services | Hospital, First Aid, Pharmacy | Provide medical and pharmaceutical assistance to detainees, guards, and families. |
| Post Office | Manage incoming and outgoing correspondence for the colony community. | |
| Telephone Exchange | Ensure internal and external communications, essential for management and security. | |
| Power Station | Provide electricity for the buildings and activities of the colony. | |
| Agricultural Production | Vineyards, Citrus Groves, Wheat, Cereals, Legumes | Main crops for self-sufficiency and production for the external market. |
| Pastoralism | Breeding of Cattle, Sheep, Goats, Pigs | Production of meat, milk, and derivatives, contributing to food and economic self-sufficiency. |
| Industrial/Artisan Production | Carpentry, Joinery, Blacksmith Workshops | Production of furniture, tools, and maintenance of agricultural structures and instruments. |
| Charcoal Production | Thinning of forests and transformation of wood into charcoal, an energy and economic resource. | |
| Residential and Administrative Structures | Cells, Director’s Villa, Offices, Inner Courtyard | Heart of detention, management, and community life. |
| Roads and Detachments | Internal connection network and detached work points in the territory, some with mobile homes. |
Detainee Life and Forced Labor: Conditions, Activities, and Discipline
The life of detainees in the Castiadas Penal Colony is widely described as extremely arduous, often referred to as “a life of hell.” The penal system of the time was primarily based on forced labor, conceived as “strenuous work for the benefit of the State.” Convicts were frequently forced to wear “chains on their feet.” Direct testimonies from former Castiadas detainees are unfortunately scarce.
Table 3: Living Conditions and Disciplinary Aspects (General Context of Penal Colonies)
| Aspect | Description of Conditions/Practices | Implication/Effect on Detainees |
|---|---|---|
| Labor | Forced “strenuous labor for the benefit of the State,” mainly outdoors (construction, agriculture, mines). Use of “chains on the feet” (Penal Code 1859). | Exhausting physical effort, public humiliation, perception of punishment as afflictive, not re-educational. |
| Accommodation | Communal living day and night. | Lack of privacy, precarious hygienic conditions, overcrowding. |
| Discipline | Tiered system: only the “most disciplined” work outdoors. Severe punishments: “dark cell” (without light/air, with irons), “isolation cell” (6 months of solitude). | “Hellish” living conditions. Risk of madness or suicide due to isolation. Use of “barbaric means” of punishment. |
| Health | Exposure to malaria. | Numerous victims and widespread diseases. |
| Socialization | Prohibition of contact with free workers. Almost no communication with family members. | Social isolation, loss of contact with the “free world,” obstacle to resocialization. |
| Training | Declared objective of schooling and learning a trade. | Contradiction between the re-educational intent and the reality of living and working conditions. |
Territorial and Economic Impact: The Transformation of Sarrabus
The Castiadas Penal Colony was not only a place of detention and punishment but also a fundamental driver for the economic and demographic development of the surrounding territory. Through the forced labor of its detainees, the colony carried out large-scale reclamation, transforming a marshy, unhealthy region, abandoned for centuries due to malaria, into a fertile and habitable area. The former penal colony became the “beating heart” of Castiadas, culminating in 1985 with the attainment of autonomous municipality status.
Closure and Memory: From Punishment to Cultural Heritage
The long history of the Castiadas Penal Colony came to an end between 1952 and 1956. Today, the former penal colony stands as an important historical site and an “authentic monument,” playing a crucial role in Castiadas’ cultural identity. The complex houses the Museum of the Territory, located mainly in the former administration wing, which documents the prison’s history and the local traditions of Sarrabus. The site is currently undergoing significant recovery and renovation work.
Conclusions: Legacy and Historical Significance of the Castiadas Colony
The Castiadas Penal Colony emerges as an institution of extraordinary complexity and historical significance. Its identity is intrinsically dual: on the one hand, it was an imposing penal structure, the largest in Italy, intended for the execution of severe sentences through forced labor; on the other hand, it represented an ambitious project of reclamation and agricultural development, capable of transforming a vast marshy and desolate area of Sarrabus into fertile and productive land. Today, the former penal colony has been skillfully reappropriated and valued as cultural heritage.
Where it is located
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