His is one of the most significant figures in the history of Sardinia. An acute personality, curious and always ready to take stimuli from his studies to continue his research. A research, that of Canon Giovanni Spano, at the center of the study conference that began this morning, organized by the Department of Letters, Languages and Cultural Heritage of the University of Cagliari in the Coroneo hall in the Cittadella dei Musei in Piazza Arsenale in the capital.

A conference, with the scientific coordination of Eleonora Todde and Nicoletta Usai , which celebrates the 145th anniversary of the death of a man who has made traits of his love for culture, research and topics such as archeology, linguistics and popular traditions distinctive features of the utmost importance.

During the morning there were many important interventions by leading exponents of the academic world including Luciano Marrocu who focused on the initiation of Canon Spano and the years spent in Rome. « During the years at the University of Sassari – underlined Marrocu – Spano's vocation for studies grew ever stronger, so much so that he took part in the doctoral competition in philosophy which, however, did not have a positive outcome. Despite this, he certainly did not indulge in victimization and decided to leave for Rome in order to put himself to the test and make a significant leap in quality».

There were many anecdotes Marrocu focused on regarding the Roman years. « Spano's stay in Rome turned out to be less difficult than expected, even if there were some difficulties. For example, one day while walking he found himself in the middle of a group of people who threw stones at him, or he had an argument with a merchant from whom he bought fruit and who mocked him for his Sardinian cadence. But despite this, Spano never lost enthusiasm and confidence : the private lessons in Hebrew were crucial in those years, a precious testimony of his interest in multilingualism».

Marrocu, during his speech, also underlined the Canon's attachment to his roots and origins. « During the summer holidays, in fact, he returned to Ploaghe where he devoted himself totally to his investigations. His vocation to study was very modern, Canon Spano can be defined to all intents and purposes as the inventor of Sardinian studies». Attilio Mastino, on the other hand, connected remotely from Sassari, examined the novelties of Giovanni Spano's correspondence, also recalling the trip to Sardinia of the Nobel Prize for Literature Theodor Mommsen between 13 and 27 October 1877 . « On that occasion Mommsen – Mastino pointed out – stayed in Sassari for three days and then moved right to the Ploaghe di Spano».

Among the most significant topics analysed, the relationship between Spano and the then archbishop of Cagliari Emanuele Marongiu Nurra stands out on the part of Luca Lecis . « Marongiu Nurra was a fundamental figure for the formation of Spano – added Lecis -. In 1842 he appointed him Canon of the Diocese of Villaspeciosa, at the time the poorest: initially Spano did not take this decision well but Marongiu Nurra convinced him that this would be a great opportunity for him to develop his passion for archeology in total freedom and ethnology". A profound relationship that continued even during Marongiu Nurra's sixteen years of ''exile'' in Rome. « Marongiu Nurra was a great point of reference for Spano – concluded Lecis -. He was a man of faith, distinguished by a remarkable critical conscience and tireless activism. In the correspondence between the two we discussed not only cultural issues but also politics ».

Tomorrow final day starting at 9: among the topics that will be addressed there will be Spano's historical-artistic studies on the island, the pictorial and printed representation of the traditional Sardinian costume at the time of Spano and his activity as a lexicographer, dialectologist and demologist.

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