Every self-respecting castle has its ghost, and Baldu Castle is no exception. Legend has it that the ghost of Ubaldo II Visconti, an important historical figure who lived during the Kingdom of Gallura, wanders around its walls and among its rooms. He held the office of judge of Gallura from 1225 until his death and was buried, according to tradition, in the Basilica of Nostra Signora di Luogosanto. However, it is said that his ghost continues to roam in the vicinity of the castle. According to legend, Ubaldo would appear near the small church of Santo Stefano dressed in Pisan lordly robes typical of the 14th century and would only show himself to the truly believing and worthy.

The main tale, which constitutes the work’s leitmotiv, focuses on Bastiano Tansu, one of the most notorious Sardinian bandits: he was nicknamed ‘the Terrible’ but known simply as ‘the mute man’ because he was born deaf and without speech.

The novel is first and foremost an extraordinary journey at the discovery of Gallura, its history, culture, and unique and distinctive landscape. Many years have passed since the release of this work, yet it remains highly captivating. The book is still reprinted and, above all, sold.

According to legend, the femina agabbadòra used different killing methods depending on the place: she entered the dying person’s room wearing black clothes and with her face hidden and suffocated them with a pillow, used an olive wood club (‘su matzolu’) to hit them with a single sharp blow on their forehead or the back of their head, or chocked them by putting their neck between her legs.

Some anthropologists believe that the femina agabbadòra never existed. There is no proof of the existence of the femina agabbadòra as such, but there is evidence of women who brought comfort to families, accompanying dying people until their very last moment. They eased agony and offered support, which is why they were respected by the whole community, but they did not kill according to some researchers.

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.