Italian hermit living alone on an island says self-isolation is the ultimate journey

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For more than 30 years, Mauro Morandi has been the sole inhabitant of a beautiful island in the Mediterranean Sea. For the past few weeks his hermit’s hut has been an aptly isolated location from which to watch the global coronavirus crisis unfold.

And, after being alone with his own thoughts for so much of his life, he’s got some insight into the isolation that many of us now face in the weeks and months ahead.

Morandi, a former teacher, arrived on the island of Budelli, off the coast of Sardinia, by accident while attempting to sail from Italy to Polynesia 31 years ago. He fell in love with the pristine atoll’s crystal-clear waters, coral sands and beautiful sunsets – and decided to stay.

He took over from the previous caretaker shortly afterward and, at the age of 81, he’s still there, having earned himself a reputation as Italy’s Robinson Crusoe.

Each night he sleeps in an old stone cottage and wakes up in the morning surrounded by mother nature. He enjoys exploring shrubs and cliffs and talks to birds at breakfast as they fly in and out of his little kitchen window.

Island of secrets: The Isle of Budelli, near Sardinia in Italy's Maddalena archipelago is known for its beautiful landscapes and its sole resident: enigmatic 81-year-old Mauro Morandi.

Escape from society: Morandi, pictured, has lived alone on Budelli since he set off on a quest to escape from society in 1989. "I was always a rebellious child. I think I ran away from home, the first time, aged nine," he says.

Sail away: Frustrated with society, Morandi and a group of his friends eventually made the decision to quit Italy. "We took a catamaran to go to Polynesia to look for a desert island to start a new life." Instead, they landed on the rose-tinted shores of Budelli, between Corsica and Sardinia.

Lifelong rebel: As an adult, Morandi continued to rebel against established norms. "I was a protester in '68. Then I stopped engaging in politics because I realized I was not made for armed conflict, I hate weapons," he explains.

New purpose: The previous caretaker was about to retire and Morandi, taken with the beauty and solitude of Budelli, became his successor: "And that's how I took his place and found my Polynesia here," he explains.

Unfriendly attitude: His initial role was as the island's official guardian. At first, he had little interest in the island's tourists. "The first few years I was very standoffish," recalls Morandi. "I did not want to communicate with anyone who came to see the pink beach, and I enjoyed all this beauty alone."

Showcasing beauty: As the years went by, Morandi's attitude slowly changed and his view mellowed. "I felt a bit selfish and I wanted to share with the whole world what I consider one of the great beauties of nature," he says. "Because I think like Dostoevsky that only beauty can save this world from man made destruction."

Importance of communication: Morandi began engaging with the tourists who came to see the famous pink beach. Now he gives tours and talks to guests in the summer months.

New ownership: Ownership of the island has changed several times over the last few years. Since 2016, Budelli has been a government-owned national park, rendering Morandi's role obsolete. "The island has been acquired by the state and I am here until the new president of the park decides what to do with me," he says.

Home sweet home: For now, Morandi continues to live in this house, his residence for the past 29 years. It might look ramshackle to some, but it's the place he calls home.

New frontiers: For Morandi, one advantage of the government takeover is the introduction of Wi-Fi to Budelli. Morandi has taken advantage of his new found connectivity to showcase Budelli's beauty to the world -- via social media.

Stunning photographs: Morandi's stunning photographs on Instagram, Facebook and Google Maps highlight Budelli's landscapes and nature -- from spectacular coastline to intricate close-ups of microorganisms, like this Miniacina miniacea.

Day in a life: Taking the photos has become a key part of Morandi's daily routine. "I just get up in front of the sea to take pictures of the sunrise, have breakfast, I feed the two cats and then the hen," he says. "Then I start working on the tablet to process photos, comment and answer questions, given that I have 5,000 Facebook friends."

Internet presence: Morandi came to Budelli to escape from society, but he says he doesn't mind that the internet has widened his world. "I am very satisfied with my visibility, because I think it can help to appreciate the beauty [and] therefore the respect and protection of nature," he says.

"Madman" of the island: Today, Morandi is as much of an attraction to visitors on the island as the beautiful beaches. "In the summer, the days are exclusively dedicated to communicating with tourists, who now come more than anything else to meet the 'madman' who lives alone on an island," he says.

Comfortable solitude: In the winter months, however, visitors are far more infrequent. Morandi spends huge stretches of time alone. "I've never felt loneliness, because I'm fine by myself," he insists. He has family ties to Italy's mainland, but remains committed to his life on Budelli.

Uncertain future: Following the government takeover of Budelli in 2016, Morandi's right to live on the island was challenged. But a petition protesting this decision got over 18,000 signatures. He remains in limbo.

Time of uncertainty: Time will tell what the future holds for Budelli and Morandi, who says he only wants the best for the island.

See stunning photos of an Italian island where only one man lives

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He keeps up with the news though, learning first of mainland Italy’s shutdown against the spread of coronavirus, and then the rest of the world’s.

In his solitary world, he says he currently feels like he’s in the “safest place on Earth.” He’s also eager to share a few tips on how to best face self-isolation.

“I am fine, I’m not scared,” he tells CNN Travel via the mobile phone that is his link to the outside world. “I feel safe here. This island offers total protection. No risks at all. Nobody lands, not even a single boat can be seen sailing by.”

‘Tough times’

Budelli is known for its beautiful pink shoreline.

Like many of us, Morandi’s main concern is for the wellbeing of his family and friends – in his case living in northern Italy’s Modena, one of the most virus-hit areas in Italy.

“They’re facing tough times,” he says.

Little has changed for Morandi since Italy’s virus outbreak, except that he must now wait longer for people to bring him food from the mainland due to harsh restrictions imposed by Rome’s government.

These have meant that even the sporadic visits from tourists during the winter have ceased. Over the years he’s become accustomed to daytrippers, befriending them and sometimes sharing his meals with them.

Left alone, he spends the day admiring the sea, inhaling the pure air, collecting wood, preparing his meals and – of course – posting on Instagram.

“I get bored, so I kill time taking photos of the beaches, the wildlife and scenery, editing shots and then sharing these on social media and Instagram,” he says. “I have a lot of followers.”

The wild-bearded sea dog thinks the virus shutdown, if it continues, means tourists will be staying away at least until July, but the prospect of a quieter summer doesn’t scare him.

Morandi has a few tips for people now forced into solitude in Italy and elsewhere by the pandemic. He says a few weeks holed up inside is nothing to get upset about but is instead an opportunity to practice some soul searching.

He speaks, he says, from experience. Despite having an entire island to himself, even Mediterranean winters can be tough and he spends many months in confinement.

“I spend each winter shut in my house, for months on end I hardly wander across the island, but instead I kill time on the front porch under the canopy. So what the heck, people can’t stay at home for two weeks? That’s absurd.”

As Italy tightens restrictions on movement to control the virus, dozens of Italians have been fined in the last few days for leaving their homes for non-urgent reasons like a stroll in the park or at the beach.

From wanderer to hermit

Morandi's ramshackle home is in need of some TTLC.

“I read a lot, and think. I think many people are scared of reading because if they do, they’ll start meditating and thinking about stuff, and that can be dangerous.

“If you start seeing things under a different light and be critical, you could end up seeing what a miserable life you lead or what a bad person you are or the bad things you did.”

This introspection can, he says, ultimately be highly rewarding. Morandi recounts his own transformation from an inveterate wanderer who traveled across Europe each year to a solitary islander.

“I just didn’t feel like traveling anymore – no interest,” he says. “I understood that the most beautiful, dangerous, adventurous and gratifying journeys of all is the one inside yourself, whether you’re sitting in the living room or under a canopy here in Budelli. That’s why staying at home and doing nothing can be really hard for many.”

But, he adds: “I never feel alone.”

In Morandi’s view, most people don’t want to be alone because they can’t stand their own company and the imposed shutdown is forcing many to face this.

And, he says, while the current crisis presents an opportunity to re-evaluate their lives, he doesn’t think that many will make the most of it.

“I don’t believe in the healing power of people to change,” he says. “Perhaps some individuals will, but the majority are too accustomed to comforts and frenetic lifestyles.”

Meanwhile, time flows by as usual on Budelli.

Winter this year has been milder, with spring-like temperatures and warm suns. The island’s habitat remains quite untouched. No pollution. Clear fluorescent turquoise waters, lush wild vegetation, purplish rocks resembling natural sculptures and healthy air.

“My cat died just the other day, she was 20 years old,” Morandi says. “Perhaps this climate does bring longevity.”

‘Everything I need’

Occasional visits from daytrippers have ceased since the virus outbreak.

Budelli is one of the most beautiful islands in the entire Mediterranean. Dating back to prehistoric times when the Earth’s crust was still forming, legend says it’s a shard of the mythical, lost Atlantis continent swallowed by the ocean.

But the island isn’t completely immune to climate change and nature’s destruction by man, says Morandi.

Not long ago a clear line of pinkish sand cut along the shore, made of bright pink, orange and salmon-tinted crushed coral, crystals, fossils and dead marine creatures, giving the shore a sparkling strawberry hue similar to that of sunset skies.

“Now the pink is almost gone, hard to see,” he says. “The directions of the winds blowing over Budelli have changed, the pinkish sand no longer piles up as it used to.”

The mayhem on mainland Italy is allowing Budelli’s caretaker to buy time over his own fate.

Ownership of the island has changed several times over the last few years. Since 2016, Budelli has been a government-owned national park, rendering Morandi’s role obsolete – a situation he has fought while continuing to live there.

The virus emergency is likely to postpone any decision over his future for the time being, though his ramshackle home is in need of a restyle.

“For now I’ve got everything I need. There’s electricity, even if it needs a makeover, and running water, and an extra small stove for heating.”

Nothing to complain about.