Italian Events: Sardinia Festivals
I Candelieri in Sassari, Ardia, San Salvatore & Sant’Antonio Abate
The best celebrations, from the Barefoot Race near Oristano and horse-racing in Sedilo to bonfires in Nuoro Province and traditional costume parades in August.
Some of the best Italian events take place on the island of Sardinia. Sardinian festivals include the traditional costume parade of I Candelieri in Sassari, the Barefoot Race of the Festa di San Salvatore near Oristano, the Ardia horse-racing in Sedilo and the bonfires in Nuoro Province for the Festa di Sant’Antonio Abate.
Italian Events: Sardinia Festivals – I Candelieri, Sassari, Sardinia, Italy
Sardinia’s second biggest town (after Cagliari) comes alive on August 14th every year, with an incredible parade through Sassari. I Candelieri (The Candlesticks) sees local resident wearing traditional costumes carrying giant wooden candlesticks through the town, in order to celebrate and give thanks for the town’s deliverance from the plague in 1652. The party often spills into the next day, August 15th, as the locals also celebrate the Feast of the Assumption
Italian Events: Sardinia Festivals – Festa di Sant’Antonio Abate, Nuoro Province, Sardinia, Italy
The dead of winter isn’t usually the best time to get outside and party, but try telling that to the residents of the Nuoro Province. On January 16th, they all emerge from the comforts of central heating to go out to the central square of their town and create a huge bonfire. The Festa di Sant’Antonio Abate also involves blessings and processions. The festival is very much a local affair, with each village having its own party. Some of the best bonfires can be seen in Paulilatino, Mamoaida and Orgosolo.
Italian Events: Sardinia Festivals – Ardia, Sedilo, Sardinia, Italy
Similar to Il Palio in Siena, Tuscany, Ardia is an insanely dangerous horse-racing event. Taking place on July 6th and 7th every year, it is Sedilo’s celebration of a battle that didn’t really have all that much to do with the town – Maxentius’ defeat at the hands of Constantine in AD312 in Rome. In what pretty much amounts to a free-for-all, a mob of riders race with little care for life and limb around a track by the chapel of Santu Antine as the locals drink and fire guns.
Italian Events: Sardinia Festivals – Festa di San Salvatore, Cabras, Sardinia, Italy
In an Italian event that should probably be sponsored by a foot cream manufacturer, the Festa di San Salvatore sees hundreds of would-be athletes racing the Corsa degli Scalzi (Barefoot Race). The valiant/ mad runners then charge for 8km towards the sanctuary of San Salvatore, near Oristano. Each one carries an image of the Saviour, in order to commemorate an incident in 1506, when the residents did the same to save a priceless effigy being stolen by Moorish raiders.
