22 Jul ‘Lu Suiddatu’ – Hidden Treasures in Gallura

 

One of Gallura’s legends and superstitions revolves around a hidden treasure, ‘Lu Suiddatu’, consisting of precious golden coins.

 

 

But how can you find this treasure? Those who wish to look for the hidden treasure, which can usually appear as a chest or a copper or terracotta pot, must be accompanied by two other people. One will be tasked with reading ‘lu libru di lu cumandu’ (the ritual book). The other two will have to dig. The ritual must not begin before midnight and must be over when the cock sings for the third time. During the ritual, malignant spirits called ‘di li spirienzi mali’ can appear looking like demons or terrifying animals: if one of the treasure seekers panics, all three must abandon the endeavour.

 

 

In other areas of Gallura, the process is very different. You must first locate the point where the treasure is likely to be found. Then, from midnight to 1:00 A.M., you must circumscribe the area by drawing a circle on the ground. The person sitting in the middle must read ‘lu libru di lu cumandu pa la chjamata’ to call for the Guardian, usually identified with the devil; the other two people at the sides, called ‘li testimogni’ (i.e., the witnesses), must assist in absolute silence.

 

 

The most experienced person, namely the one reading the ritual book, should warn the two witnesses that if any of the participants faint out of fear, they will have to be immediately dragged out of the circle to escape death. The ritual is not always successful on the first try, and it may be necessary to repeat it for several nights until the Guardian appears.