Naike Rivelli: "In Teulada, I discovered the real Sardinia; as a girl, I'd known the jet-set side."

She discovered a new Sardinia, far removed from clichés and worldliness, closer to her values and surprisingly familiar: this is the heart of the story of Naike Rivelli, actress and singer known as Nayked, a guest of the "Luoghi Letterari" artistic residency in Teulada, where she spent six days immersed in nature, traditions, and authentic rhythms. A return to the island that overturns past experiences, those tied to a more polished world, where she grew up alongside her mother, Ornella Muti, and which today gives way to a "real" Sardinia, capable of finally making her feel at home, as she anticipated Thursday on Radiolina, a guest of Francesca Figus and Francesco Abate on the program "Unione Cult."

Unfortunately, as a girl, I had to experience a completely different kind of Sardinia: a Sardinia of events, sponsors, the jet set, a whole world that never really belonged to me, where going out was difficult because there was a whole conspiracy about how you should dress and what people wanted to see. It had nothing to do with what has become important to me over the years, like the environment, animals, and the ecosystem. So from then on, I avoided Sardinia, because I had that memory of it. Today, instead, I have found a Sardinia that makes me feel close to my Calabria, a pure land, full of down-to-earth people who live by preserving important traditions.

What did you find in Teulada that you didn't expect?

I didn't think there were so many hotels and B&Bs. It's definitely packed in August, and even recently I've seen a huge influx of tourists from Germany, England, and France, people who know there are magical places there. In the collective imagination, I think Sardinia is "Porto Cervo, parties, clubs, discos, and luxury hotels"; instead, there are amazing, pristine beaches, without resorts. Who knows how many people save up their money to then take long trips to find beaches right on their doorstep and that are also affordable. I found everything wonderful, from the B&B to the prices; we ate well for a reasonable price.

What struck you?

Humanity's coexistence with nature. I'm vegan and have my own ethical views, but I have great respect for those who have the courage and desire to raise their animals outdoors, caring for them. Perhaps that's why there are so many centenarians, because imbalance and exaggeration don't lead to longevity. This is the story I'd come to understand: because Teulada is a blue zone, they live longer than others, in my opinion, because they have a certain lifestyle. They're not rich billionaires; in fact, they live a very simple lifestyle... so maybe all this stress, all this extra that should make us feel better, actually makes us feel worse? Perhaps all this modernity, in the end, creates stress and illness? In Teulada I found a great symbiosis between people and animals, much more so than in any other place I've visited in the world.

On May 1st, Sardinia celebrates Sant'Efisio. Were you able to participate in the procession?

No, but I saw it through the rest of the group. We had video calls, and I was enchanted by what I saw. It's not the first time I've witnessed these rituals; it's typical of places where people are deeply attached to their traditions and try to pass them on to their children and grandchildren, keeping them alive through celebrations and ceremonies like this one. I find it wonderful; it touches my heart and makes me think about the time that stands still, because in a certain sense it's as if time has stood still, because in today's modernity everything has remained as it was.

What do you take home from this experience?

"I'm taking away the promise of returning in June, to celebrate the birthday of a centenarian who should be turning one hundred and to tell the story of a seed and a chickpea. But I'll tell it in June; I don't feel like doing it now because it's too beautiful and needs its own moment."