When distances felt longer because of the lack of transportation, the community represented a person’s entire social world.
But time passes, technology advances, and distances grow shorter.
Still, here opportunities for personal and professional growth remain scarce.
And so begins the migration — especially of young people — a phenomenon that has continued for generations and has left our villages facing a serious issue: depopulation.
Fewer conveniences, more connections.
For those who stay, the social life of the village isn’t always enough.
Schools, hospitals, and services have gradually been moved to larger towns.
Not having everything at your fingertips can be challenging at times — but there’s a brighter side too: new friendships are born, and a wider community emerges — the Meilogu, the historic region where we are.
There are about 14,000 of us spread across several small towns, sharing places, services, social life, and the unmissable Saturday night gatherings.
It was in this setting that Gio and I met: friends for many years, later united by the same curiosity.
He, the son of a shepherd but always an artist at heart.
Me, raised within a family B&B — born from an innovative project of restoration and heritage revival.
We decided to leave for Verona.
To study and nurture our passions: Design and Marketing.
The city was beautiful, the university inspiring. We made great friends and found professional opportunities that could have easily convinced us to stay.
And yet… something was missing.
So, we decided to come back home.
To give Sardinia another chance.
A choice many called crazy — and perhaps it was — but also the most heartfelt decision we could have made.
The rest, we’ll leave for time (and for you, when you come visit us) to decide.
Back home, we founded a marketing consulting firm — De.Thinkers Consulting — and chose to invest all our energy and skills into a new project.
One that could create value not only for us, but for our land.
A place where different people could meet, work together, and inspire one another.
A space to prove that even in a small village, you can live from creativity, innovation, and new professions.
And from that vision…
Ruja was born.
Today, Giommaria is a Graphic Designer and NFT Artist, while I work as a Marketing Consultant and Content Creator focused on territories and sustainable tourism.
We keep our ties with our life in Verona, while building new ones here in Sardinia — with people who share our same desire to stay and create, like the RU.RA.LE. APS Association.
We love meeting and welcoming people from all over the world, which is why we continue to run our family B&B, hosting guests from every corner of the globe.
Ruja is where everything we believe in takes shape.
A place that celebrates connection and creativity — where people, both local and international, can live, work, and grow together.
A space where young Sardinians can find inspiration for their future, explore new projects, and discover modern professions that connect tradition with innovation.
Because in the digital age, the world can be vast and full of opportunities — even from a small village like Banari.
But who talks about this? Who shows that it’s possible?
If, on one hand, bringing new energy into small villages is essential to spark innovation and create reasons to stay,
on the other, we too have much to offer the world.
We could tell you about our art, culture, nature, history, food, and traditions —
and about a lifestyle that hides the secret of longevity.
But in the end, perhaps it’s enough to ask:
Aren’t the places that put people at the center of a healthy and peaceful life the rarest ones?
Maybe they’re worth discovering.
Ruja Coworking
