There are only five places in the world where people live much longer on average than the rest of humanity. They are called Blue Zones. One is in Japan, one in California, one in Costa Rica, one in Greece. And then there's Sardinia.
Not just any part of Sardinia: the inland. Those mountain villages in Barbagia and Ogliastra where men reach 100 years old with an unparalleled frequency in the world.
The question many ask is: how do they do it? The answer is simpler — and more fascinating — than one might think.
What are Blue Zones?
The term "Blue Zones" originated from a demographic study published in Experimental Gerontology by researchers Gianni Pes and Michel Poulain. By analyzing global longevity data, the two scholars drew concentric blue circles on the map around areas with the highest concentration of centenarians — hence the name.
The five recognized Blue Zones are:
- Sardinia, Italy — the highest concentration of male centenarians in the world
- Okinawa, Japan
- Loma Linda, California
- Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica
- Ikaria, Greece — where almost 1 in 3 inhabitants reach 90 years old
Where are Sardinian centenarians found?
Not on a beach. Not in a coastal city. Sardinia's longest-living villages are in the mountainous inland, far from mass tourism.
The main areas are three:
- Ogliastra — the area with the highest concentration of male centenarians. Strisaili, Arzana, Talana, Baunei, Urzulei, Triei.
- Barbagia di Ollolai — Tiana, Ovodda, Ollolai, Gavoi, Fonni, Mamoiada, Orgosolo, Oliena.
- Seulo — a single village in Barbagia di Seùlo, with 20 centenarians in the last 20 years. It boasts the title of "the longest-living village in the world."
What do centenarians in Blue Zones have in common?
Researchers have analyzed the habits of these populations, looking for common traits. From a genetic standpoint, they are very diverse, so it's not a matter of DNA. The causes are related to environment, diet, and lifestyle.
Recurring factors include:
- Strong family ties — having a role in the community, feeling useful and necessary to others.
- Low chronic stress — a satisfying life, able to find value in small things.
- No smoking — almost none of the centenarians in Blue Zones have ever smoked.
- Natural daily movement — not gym or competitive sports, but walking, working the land, moving as part of the day.
- Simple and local diet — fresh produce, few preservatives, little meat.
What do Sardinian centenarians eat (and drink)?
The Sardinian Blue Zone diet is an extreme version of the Mediterranean diet. Low in meat, rich in legumes, whole grains, local cheese, seasonal fruits, and vegetables.
The most common foods on centenarians' tables:
- Legumes — chickpeas, beans, lentils, as a primary source of protein
- Whole grains — malloreddus, fregola, pane carasau from local durum wheat
- Cheese — especially Pecorino Sardo and Goat cheese, consumed several times a week
- Fresh vegetables and fruits — seasonal, often home-grown
- Little meat — unlike Okinawa, fish is rarely consumed inland
And then there's the wine.
One or two glasses a day, preferably in company. The most consumed wines among Sardinian centenarians are Cannonau, Vermentino, Vernaccia, and Malvasia — all local wines, produced within a few kilometers of where they live.
Cannonau, in particular, has become internationally famous thanks to a study that measured exceptionally high levels of resveratrol and polyphenols — natural antioxidants — compared to other red wines. Some research suggests it can contribute to cardiovascular health when consumed in moderation.
It's not magic. It's a good glass of wine, in good company, at the end of the day.
The wine of longevity, from the region that made it famous
At Colline del Vento, we produce wines from native Sardinian grape varieties — Cannonau and Vermentino — cultivated with respect for the land. We don't add what's not needed. We work to ensure that what's in the glass is wine, not chemicals.
We don't promise a hundred years. But we do promise a good glass, to share with those you care about.
→ Discover our Sardinian wines on the shop
A small curiosity
Why is the province of Nuoro — particularly Barbagia and Ogliastra — home to the highest concentration of male centenarians in the world? Researchers attribute this record to a combination of diet, lifestyle, strong social ties, and the absence of chronic stress.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Sardinia a Blue Zone?
Because the province of Nuoro — particularly Barbagia and Ogliastra — has the highest concentration of male centenarians in the world. Researchers attribute this record to a combination of diet, lifestyle, strong social ties, and the absence of chronic stress.
Is Cannonau really good for you?
Some research suggests that Cannonau contains higher-than-average levels of resveratrol and polyphenols compared to other red wines. These compounds are associated with cardiovascular benefits. That said, no study claims that drinking Cannonau will make you live a hundred years: it is the combination of all factors — diet, exercise, social relationships — that makes the difference.
How many Blue Zones are there in the world?
Five: Sardinia (Italy), Okinawa (Japan), Loma Linda (California), Nicoya Peninsula (Costa Rica), and Ikaria (Greece).
Where are Sardinia's longest-living villages located?
In the mountainous inland, not on the coast. The main areas are Ogliastra and Barbagia di Ollolai, in the province of Nuoro. The village with the absolute record of centenarians in the last twenty years is Seulo.
100 Centenari: the photographic project by Luigi Corda
If you want to get closer to Sardinian centenarians not through data but through faces, there is a book worth knowing.
Luigi Corda, a photographer from Cagliari, spent about two years traveling around Sardinia to immortalize one hundred centenarians of the island. The result is "100 Centenari", published by Silvana Editoriale in a bilingual Italian/English edition.
It is not a book of science or statistics. It is a book of portraits: close-up, full-page, black and white photographs. Each image tries to convey through a gaze, a smile, a gesture, something that numbers cannot express. Each portrait is accompanied by a short text — habits, diet, memories, a curiosity — like a flash on that person's life.
The result is an anthropological document of great tenderness, with a preface by the Sardinian anthropologist and writer Giulio Angioni, professor at the University of Cagliari. The work was also exhibited in Milan, in collaboration with the Bìfoto Festival of Photography in Sardinia.
Flipping through it, readers say, the most striking thing is the pride of these faces in showing the signs of time. Not nostalgia, not fragility — pride.
→ Discover Luigi Corda's book "100 Centenari" on Silvana Editoriale
Sardinia is not only famous for its beaches. It is famous because somewhere in that rugged and beautiful inland there is something that works — in food, in wine, in the way of being together. It is worth learning something from that tradition.
Sardinia is not only famous for its beaches. It is famous because somewhere in that rugged and beautiful inland there is something that works — in food, in wine, in the way of being together. It is worth learning something from that tradition
