Sartiglia
The festival, which gets its name from the Spanish word “sortija”(ring), originated in the XVI century and lasts a whole day. In the morning the Herald reads the ban, after which there is the ceremonial appointing of the Sartiglia Games Master (”su Componidori”). The races take place in the afternoon, when horsemen wearing masks ride at great speed down the narrow street and try to spear the centre of a silver star suspended above the road. The spear is a symbol of power, while the stars represent the fertile ground and good harvests. Finally, skilled riders show off their horsemanship in breathtaking acrobatics in the Pariglie.
Address
Oristano (OR)
Notes
Sunday of Carnival and Shrove Tuesday