Bolotana, a mountain village in central Sardinia with a population of 2,266, is in line to become the world's sixth blue zone – a geographic area with an unusually high concentration of centenarians – driven by the exceptional longevity of its female residents. A study by professors at the University of Sassari and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, published in the journal Frontiers in Aging, found that 13.8% of women in Bolotana who reach 70 will live to 100, placing it second in the world for female longevity after Hong Kong.
Sisters' stories
Among the village's centenarians are sisters Giovanna Marras, 101, and Mariangela Marras, 99, who live together in Bolotana. Giovanna excelled at school before moving to Cagliari at 18 to train as a seamstress; the sisters ran a successful tailoring business and travelled the world after retirement. Neither married. "Someone did come to the house and ask my parents for my hand in marriage," Giovanna said. "I told them to tell him to go away – I mean, a woman should at least know her future husband." Mariangela added: "I didn't want to get married … I walk my own path, I don't need support."
Uncovering a longevity hotspot
Tore Pedde, president of the cultural association Orminas, uncovered Bolotana's potential after searching its demographic archives and tracking down centenarians who had moved overseas. Records of people born in Bolotana between 1900 and 1925 showed 38 had lived beyond 100, a rate 57% higher than the Italian national average. "Up until the early 1900s, Bolotana followed a trend whereby men significantly outnumbered women among the elderly," Pedde said. "From the early 20th century onwards, however, the trend shifted and women began to outnumber men."
Independence and social bonds
The female centenarians are notably independent. The Marras sisters still cook for themselves, eating a varied but clean diet without forsaking meat, cheese or wine. Filomena Scarpa, a former language teacher who turned 100 in January, began learning German in her 90s and goes to a personal trainer twice a week. "Because I can't sit around all day," she said. Giovanni Mario Pes, who led the study and co-created the blue zone concept, noted a "strong sense of sisterhood" among the women. "This felt quite unusual and is something I'd like to explore scientifically," he said. Mayor Francesco Manconi believes sociality is key: "There is an abundance of natural affection, whether from family members, neighbours or friends, towards our elderly."
