Fordongianus celebrates the century of life of Francesco Pistis

Big party in Fordongianus for Francesco Pistis. The grandfather of the spa town has in fact reached 100 springs and the important milestone was celebrated with the community. Francesco Pistis is the second of six children, four of whom are still alive: he and three sisters, aged 97, 90 and 87.

The centenarian was born in Fordongianus on 28 July 1924 into a humble family, his father a coal burner and his mother a housewife, farmer and coal seller. He grew up as a goat herder, when he reached adulthood he left for the military and for four years, due to the war, he led this life with destinations in Cagliari, Naples and Pieve di Cadore.

He emigrated to Belgium in the early 1950s. «To be able to stay there he had to do six compulsory years in the mine, he started as a worker and became a foreman», say his family. He lived in Machelen until retirement. He subsequently returned to Fordongianus where he lived with his family with a sister and his mother Maria Nughes, who died at the age of almost 102. He now lives with his 90-year-old sister Domenica. Until some time ago, he went to the countryside and made woven cane and wood baskets. He is passionate about reading, reads books and L'Unione Sarda.

Still very lucid, he was celebrated by relatives and friends. The municipal administration presented him with a plaque.