My name is Gina, and together with my sister Antonella, Nina Mameli, and Marco Ziranu, I serve as the contact person for a unique section of the Bonaria Pilgrimage Route: a stage that spans two villages and a mountain, Monte di Gonare. This is the highest stage of the Pilgrimage; situated at 1,080 meters above sea level, there stands a sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and believe me, given its location, shape, and landscape, it could only be a Marian church. The people of Sarule and Orani, as well as those from neighboring towns, have a deep devotion to Our Lady of Gonare, as evidenced by the steadfastness and dedication with which, year after year, they make the ascent to the mountain.
Among them, today, I am pleased to include the pilgrims of the Bonaria Way, who, for the first time, have made their footsteps echo along the Nuoro–Orani–Monte Gonare–Sarule leg of the route. This year, I have met and listened to many of them. We sought each other out for various reasons: to report issues or seek clarification about the route, to get to know one another in person, and to share knowledge about the places and their unique characteristics. I spoke about the origins of the sanctuary and the importance of the mountain for the communities of Sarule and Orani. Prompted by their persistent questions, I explained what a trail coordinator does—a role they were unfamiliar with. I described our close collaboration with other coordinators, our relationships with those who provide hospitality, the maintenance of the trail, the design and preparation of signage, the stamps, and much more. I spoke of the pride I feel in wearing our fantastic yellow jersey, which sets us apart and makes us recognizable everywhere.
And so, almost as if by magic, between a handshake and a chat with people who, just a moment before, were strangers, we found ourselves talking about family, children, and life. The Pilgrimage has this ability to bring souls closer and open hearts: it’s like a secret we want—sometimes without even realizing it—to share, hidden in the steps and the effort, in the sweat and the cold, in the physical and spiritual pain, in the joy and the wonder. I hold their names and faces close to my heart and in my memory. I hope they will be witnesses to the Pilgrimage: that they will take their stories home, to their offices, to schools, and along other paths; and that they will return—with friends, families, and groups—and I hope these people will be equally endowed with that simple, natural sensitivity—the kind that is born from shared steps.
Good steps
Gina Sirca
