Mauro Morandi, known to the world as “Robinson Crusoe”, was 85 years old. He spent more than 30 years living a solitary life on an island in the Mediterranean Sea. He died in 2021, just three years after rejoining society.
The only inhabitant of Budeli Island:
Budelli Island, near Sardinia, was a refuge during World War II. Before Morandi came to the island in 1989 after an accident on his catamaran, nobody lived there. He had then decided to move away from the consumerism and mercantile lifestyle of society.
Morandi arrived on the island just as the original caretaker of Budeli Island was preparing to retire. He accepted the role and devoted himself to the upkeep of the island for the next three decades. They informed travelers about the island’s ecology, kept the beaches clean, and protected the fragile ecosystem.
A simple but satisfying life in solitude:
On the island, he imported materials for the journey and built a solar-powered electricity system there. Similarly, they lived in houses made of coral, granite, and shells and heated their own homes with only simple stoves.
Expulsion from the island and the start of a new life:
In 2021, the Italian government turned Budeli Island into a nature park and Morandi was removed from it. They were then moved to La Maddalena near Sardinia. They started living in a small apartment and enjoyed modern amenities.
Morandi had said, “I am a living example that it is possible to start another life at any time. Even after crossing the age of 80, we can live a different kind of life.”
Last Days and Homage:
After an accident last year, Morandi was moved to a nursing home in the Sardinian town of Sassari. He then moved to his hometown of Modena, where he worked as a physical education teacher until 1989.
It was in Modena that his health deteriorated and he died recently. His friends paid tribute on Facebook, saying his ashes would be scattered at sea.
Acceptance of modernity from solitary life:
After leaving the island, he accepted the modern lifestyle and was said to be satisfied. “I am now happy and enjoying the comforts of everyday life,” he had expressed.
Mauro Morandi’s life has been an inspiration for solitary lifestyles, conservation of nature, and acceptance of second lives.
