Municipality of Flussio

Flussio is a small municipality located in the North-West cost of Sardinia (Italy), just 5 km far from the famous seaside city of Bosa (45 km far from the airport of Alghero). It has a population of approximately 500 people and an area of 6.9 km². The area is extremely flourishing and particularly suitable for agriculture, which together with craftwork, is the basis of its economy. One important activity is the harvesting of asphodels, which are then dried to make the famous baskets, so well known all over the Island; another important economic activity for Flussio is its vineyards whose grapes produce a fine Malvasia wine. Flussio’s main attraction is the characteristic handmade baskets, known as "corbule” and “canestri” which the women of the village weave from the stems of the very common asphodel, following a tradition which has been passed down from generation to generation. April is the month when the asphodels are gathered and laid out in bundles to dry in all the streets, squares and courtyards, covering every possible place in the village and making a very suggestive scene for anyone walking through the village. To try and further this art the Commune is opening an Asphodel Museum. The men of the village also make baskets but from other materials like reeds, willow, elm and olive, used to create stronger recipients to be used while working in the fields. Wine is another typical product of Flussio since it is the site of the Winegrower’s Cooperative of the Planargia area, situated just a short distance from the village. An excellent Malvasia with the D.O.C. trademark is produced here together with Spumante and Malvasia Grappa and also Planargia myrtle. Thanks to these products the village of Flussio is part of Bosa’s Malvasia Wine Trail.

In recent years, Flussio has taken many initiatives to promote and develop youth policies through:
- activation and management of internships reserved to young people to be employed in accommodations facilities, hotels and archaeological sites of the territory.
- Territorial planning to promote and develop equal educational opportunities for the prevention of school dropout and school quality.
- A project aimed to enhance Flussio’s archaeological sites from a cultural and tourist point of view. The purpose of the project was to create a series of interventions aimed at enhancing the archaeological resources of the municipality in order to increase the number of tourists in the area.
- an “Asphodel course” aimed to recover local traditions. The course, in addition to learn how to create the famous traditional baskets, also provided cultural insights concerning Flussio’s craft traditions and an analysis of the economic outlook of the traditional craftsmanship of asphodel. The course ended with an exhibition that displayed all the works created by the students.
- A “cutting and sewing workshop” aimed to rediscover and retrieve an ancient technique: Sardinian traditional costumes. The course was designed to make young people aware of the various tissues and their use, particularly in relation to the various parts of the Sardinian traditional costumes and trousseau.
- An “asphodel project” achieved by students accompanied by teachers and tutors. The project, in addition to being a learning and educative experience, aimed at young people to relate themselves with the territory and the crafts and more specifically with the processing of asphodel. The project has allowed young people a direct comparison with the local realities and their population in general, particularly with the craftswoman.