During the Cold War, Italy was disputed by the Atlantic and the Communist blocs. In this context, Sardinia represents a history in the history.
We are at the end of the 60’s, in the middle of the Cold War. Italy, especially due to its strategic position in the Mediterranean, was disputed by the Atlantic and the Communist blocs.
In this context, Sardinia represents a history in the history. The main character was the Italian publisher Giangiacomo Feltrinelli, one of the leading cultural names of the then extra-parliamentary left, which he financed with the purpose to bring the revolution to Italy.
Known as the ‘Anarchist billionaire‘, in 1967 Feltrinelli held a press conference in Cagliari, ambiguously unveiling his plan to make Sardinia the new Cuba of the Mediterranean. The publisher was obviously referring to the revolution that, in 1959, Fidel Castro started in the biggest Caribbean island, toppling the dictator Fulgencio Batista.
Feltrinelli considered that, in the westernmost Italian island, many factors were in his favor. Sardinia, apart from being one of the most strategic islands in Europe, had always experienced strong secessionist feelings. This had already triggered several episodes against the Italian state and the military personnel stationed in this remote region.
Moreover, the phenomenon of banditismo (brigandage), then still widespread, was thought to be breeding ground for the organization of a great popular revolt against the construction of a new army’s firing range.
From 1967 to 1969, Feltrinelli went around Sardinia to resume contact with possible conspirators, namely members of the Sardinian extra-parliamentary left and the local independentism, among those the famous fugitive Graziano Masina. However, the extensive work on the ground of the Italian secret services prevented these people to join the nascent revolutionary network.
Following the disillusionment of the failed Sardinian revolution, Feltrinelli drew closer to more extreme positions and started living in hiding, fearing that the Italian state could false evidences against him for the Piazza Fontana bombing and dreading a coup d’etat carried out by the Roman right-wing circles.