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Mountain

Blue Zone

Perdasdefogu

The village of longevity, among silent mountains and the skies of the Polygon

599 m a.s.l.
1,900 inhabitants
39.67° latitude
#blue-zone#centenari#guinness#poligono
Panorama of Perdasdefogu, Ogliastra, Sardinia
🌡️ Weather

When to visit Perdasdefogu

Climate averages for the montagna area of Ogliastra. Every season offers a different experience.

Complete seasonal guide →

Current climate

September

22° / 12° C
🌊 24°C sea
🌧️ 35 mm 4d rain
☀️ 8h sun/day
💧 62% humidity
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F
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A
M
J
J
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T-shirt and light sweater in the evening — ideal season for everything

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Historical climate averages — not real-time forecasts

Perdasdefogu stands at 599 metres above sea level in the heart of the Barbagia di Seulo, on the eastern edge of Ogliastra. With around 1,900 inhabitants, it is one of the highest and most isolated villages in the region, perched among holm-oak forests and limestone gorges where time seems to move at a different pace. The village became world-famous thanks to the record held by the Melis family — nine siblings with a combined age of 819 years, officially recognised by the Guinness World Records — turning Perdasdefogu into a symbol of Sardinia's Blue Zone. On the heights surrounding the village lies the Salto di Quirra Joint Military Testing and Training Range (PISQ), an imposing military presence that coexists, not without tension, with a territory of extraordinary natural beauty.

History & Fun Facts

The Secrets of Perdasdefogu

The Melis family and the Guinness World Record

In 2012, the Guinness World Records certified that the nine Melis siblings from Perdasdefogu held the record for the family with the greatest combined age in the world: 819 years shared between Consolata, Claudina, Maria, Antonio, Concetta, Adolfo, Vitalio, Mafalda and Efisio. The youngest was over 78 years old. The news travelled around the globe, drawing renewed attention to the exceptional longevity of Ogliastra and the Barbagia, where the number of centenarians per capita is among the highest on Earth. The Melis family attributed their long lives to working the fields, simple food, Cannonau wine and — above all — deep family and community bonds.

The Ogliastra Blue Zone: the secret of a long life

Perdasdefogu falls within Sardinia's so-called Blue Zone, identified by demographer Michel Poulain and journalist Dan Buettner as one of five regions in the world with the highest concentration of centenarians. The characteristics shared by these zones — a plant-based diet, daily physical activity, strong social cohesion, a sense of belonging and purpose — are found here in an authentic, unforced way. The elderly residents of Perdasdefogu continue to tend their kitchen gardens, walk the paths, and gather in the village square. Longevity is not a goal here but a natural consequence of a way of life that has remained intact for centuries.

The Salto di Quirra Joint Military Range

The PISQ — Poligono Interforze Sperimentale e di Addestramento del Salto di Quirra — is the largest military testing area in Europe for missile and ballistic experimentation. It sits on the heights around Perdasdefogu and has left a deep mark on the village's recent history. For decades it provided jobs for the local community, but it also raised serious questions about the health of the population and livestock, with reports of abnormally high rates of cancer and birth defects — the so-called 'Quirra syndrome'. The range is still active, an imposing presence in a territory that deserves an altogether different kind of fame.

Forests, gorges and silence: the hidden landscape

Beyond the record and the military range, Perdasdefogu is set within a mountain landscape of great wild beauty. The holm-oak and downy-oak forests surrounding the village cloak the plateaus and hillsides with an almost fairy-tale density. The limestone gorges that open in the surrounding area — narrow and deep, threaded by small streams — are habitat for rare birds of prey and cliff-dwelling plants. The trails winding through these mountains are poorly marked and even less visited, making them precious for anyone seeking truly unspoilt nature, far from the coastal tourist circuits of Ogliastra.

Nature & Territory

Nature and Territory of Perdasdefogu

Mountains, forests and trails to explore

Costa di Murtas (inland access) — Perdasdefogu
Moderate

Costa di Murtas (inland access)

⏱️ 40 min by car from Perdasdefogu

Perdasdefogu is an inland village at 599 metres above sea level, far from the coast. The nearest sea is reached by descending towards Tertenia or Cardedu. The Costa di Murtas, reachable in about 40 minutes by car, offers secluded coves among granite rocks and sparse scrubland — frequented almost exclusively by those who know the area. The absence of facilities and signage keeps them wild and authentic.

Events & Traditions

Festivals and Traditions of Perdasdefogu

January

Feast of San Sebastiano

Perdasdefogu's patron saint feast is celebrated on 20 January with a solemn Mass, a procession carrying the statue of the saint, and the traditional bonfires that light up the village's cold winter night. It is a moment of strong community cohesion, with polyphonic singing and the sharing of bread and wine among the faithful.

Summer (August)

Festival of Longevity

Born in the wake of the worldwide fame brought by the Melis record, this festival celebrates the culture of Ogliastra longevity. Scientific symposia on the Blue Zone are held alongside tastings of traditional products linked to the centenarians' diet, with music and dancing. An event that brings together tourism and research.

Autumn (October)

Festival of Mushrooms and Forest Produce

In autumn the forests surrounding Perdasdefogu fill with porcini mushrooms, cardoncelli and other prized varieties. The festival celebrates this natural heritage with tasting stalls, guided mycological excursions and the village's traditional cuisine, which turns forest produce into dishes of great simplicity and flavour.

Where to Stay

Accommodations in Perdasdefogu

B&B

B&B Santa Barbara Perdasdefogu

★★★★★ 4.9 (40 reviews)

Via Emilio Lussu, 7

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Where to Eat

Restaurants and Trattorias in Perdasdefogu

Pizzeria

CIVICO10 PIZZERIA di Andrea

★★★★★ 4.6 (292 reviews)

Via C. Colombo, 10

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Explore Perdasdefogu

Beaches & Nature

Beaches and natural sites of Perdasdefogu

History & Fun Facts

History, legends and curiosities of Perdasdefogu

Events & Traditions

Festivals, fairs and traditions of Perdasdefogu

Where to Stay

B&Bs, hotels and agriturismi in Perdasdefogu

Where to Eat

Restaurants and trattorias in Perdasdefogu

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