‘If you talk, you live well’: the remote Sardinian village with eight centenarians

Books, clean air and socialising thought to have helped the latest five mark their 100th birthdays in Perdasdefogu this year

If there's one thing the remote mountain village of Perdasdefogu needs to ensure it always has a steady supply of, it's birthday candles. Already this year, 500 have been needed to decorate the birthday cakes of five residents who turned 100.

Each milestone usually means a celebration involving the entire town. The mayor, Mariano Carta, presents a medal to the centenarian, who more often than not can recall details of their life over the past century with remarkable lucidity.