Tribute to Domenico Di Giacomo, master craftsman of the bastion
"Jo Mastaro", as he was called in the Abruzzo dialect, is the story of a craft that is now almost forgotten, but which marked three generations of the Di Giacomo family. Domenico Di Giacomo, a bastier in Sante Marie, made basti, these custom-made packs for mules and donkeys. His exceptional know-how crossed borders, with his creations used in France, Switzerland, Austria, and several regions of Italy, not thanks to a commercial strategy, but thanks to the diaspora of mule drivers from Cappadocia and neighboring villages.
A craftsmanship of excellence
Domenico’s basti were works of art, handmade with carefully selected materials:
Arcioni (pommels) in naturally curved wood, carefully selected and worked.
Straw, canvas and animal hair, meticulously cleaned by hand using an ingenious roller machine, which has now disappeared.
Capperoni, large tubes recovered and softened in the sun or near a heat source.
And even the nails, however simple, were given special attention.
Every detail counted to ensure the comfort of the animal and the durability of the product. The measurements of the mules or donkeys were taken on site or sent by courier from the distant mule drivers. The basti made by Domenico were renowned for their legendary solidity, sometimes described as “indestructible”.
Living memories
Today, it is not uncommon to find one of his pack saddles as a souvenir: many are still used by the last muleteers, a testament to their quality. In Cappadocia and Sante Marie, bronze statues honor this lost craft, with the image of the mule loaded with its basto, recalling a bygone era.
Domenico, nicknamed "Jo Mastaro", was a man of few words, but his work and passion spoke for him. He transmitted values of patience, effort and love of the profession, values that we hope to perpetuate to inspire future generations.
A legacy to pass on
In tribute to this man and his work, we share his story to revive the memories of this unique profession and honor the memory of the muleteers and craftsmen who built a bridge between the past and the present.
Through Domenico's packsaddles, it is not only mules that have been equipped, but also an era that continues to live.
A big thank you to those who, like him, leave behind traces of humanity and know-how, in a world where everything seems to move so quickly.
A huge thank you to the Di Giacomo family for this poignant testimony, and to Domenico for having captured the soul of a profession and an era.
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