Every year the last Sunday and Tuesday of carnival is held the Sartiglia race. An ancient origin for this event born during the period of Spanish domination. Since 1546 it is celebrated every year without interruption.
500 years of history for this race guided by the temerity of the knights led by the almost sacred figure of Su Componidori
Among the many popular events, La Sartiglia represents one of the most significant in Sardinia. Experiencing it will be an unforgettable experience.
👉 Events not to be missed in Sardinia
Before going into the details of the event we give you some useful advice
1. Comfortable shoes! There will be a lot of walking and several hours of standing around waiting for the riders to pass.
2. If you want a comfortable place to watch the star race or the pariglie, we recommend that you buy a grandstand ticket. Prices range from 17€ to 47€ and are on sale at the ticket office in the centre of Oristano or online (buy them in advance because they sell out!). More information on the official website: Tickets Sartiglia
3. Parking is one of the problems you will have to face. If you arrive late in the morning, the larger spaces will already be full, so you will have to search for parking on the outlying streets even a few kilometres away. And after parking, keep a reference of the street otherwise you will be like someone (us!) who spent an hour looking for a car in all the streets of Oristano 🙁
4. Eating in Oristano during the Sartiglia will not be easy, especially during rush hour because of the many thousands of people present. Near Piazza Eleonora d’Arborea you can find many stands serving grilled meat, hot dishes, and sandwiches. Arm yourself with patience to queue. In addition to the stands in the square, some bars offer menus with two/three dishes. Remember that the Sartiglia is a festival for all the citizens of Oristano who want to experience these festive days with their friends and family. Some restaurants normally open during the week may in fact be closed during the Sartiglia.
5. Stay at least one night in Oristano. The day of the Sartiglia is quite busy and there are also many events in the evening. This way you will also avoid the queues on the way back. Among the most convenient hotels to stay at in Oristano we recommend Hotel il Duomo in a super central location. An alternative solution could be Monastero di Santa Chiara is centrally located and still a unique experience. If, on the other hand, you are a lover of the modern, the brand new Hotel TH Collection Rooms has beautiful, super-modern, super-comfortable rooms and of course a great location.
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Booking.comTHE ROUTE
The route takes place between the historic streets of the city and continues towards Via della Cattedrale where the Race to the Star takes place. Su Componidori opens the race with a wild descent trying to pierce the star with the sword. All the other knights descend behind him.
After that Su Componidori heads for Piazza Manno where he performs the Remada, the spectacular acrobatics. This is a test of great skill because the rider is galloping backwards on the horse
After the race, the procession moves to Via Mazzini where they perform the Pariglie (groups of 3 knights) who engage in daring acrobatics. Once the parades are over, Su Componidori closes the race and followed by his helpers, retraces the path on the horse blessing the crowd with Sa Pippia de Maiu (a symbolic object made of a bunch of violets)
In conclusion, the procession heads to the headquarters of the Gremio where the Svestizione will take place. The riders then arrive in Piazza Eleonora d’Arborea.
THE PROTAGONISTS OF SARTIGLIA
Su Componidori
It is the central figure of the event. It is the highest authority that will have the task of commanding the race. He is chosen and appointed every year on the 2nd of February during the Candelora Festival. One of the most significant aspects concerns the dressing of the rider. Aided by the massaieddas (the young women in traditional Sardinian dress) and the Massaia manna (the most experienced in this practice). He’s the one who starts the race in the first attempt to stab the star. His important role ends with the Svestizione (the undress). He removed the sacred clothes and by taking off the mask ends the figure of the heroic knight de Su Componidori
The Knights
The knights undoubtedly represent one of the main components of the Sartiglia. The protagonists on horseback are a total of 120. Lately the participation is reserved almost exclusively to local riders from Oristano because the city has grown in the equestrian passion and many young want to take part to the event. The preparation of the knights at the Sartiglia last for a whole year. A great effort is required in the athletic preparation phase and in the harmony with the other components of the pair. Who among the knights has the good fortune to be nominated from Su Componidori to try his luck in catching the star, he will be blessed with an extraordinary experience and emotion
The Gremi
The Gremi are religious corporations of members who exercised the same trade among which farmers, carpenters, iron workers, tailors, shoemakers and carters. The association was governed by statutes of direct derivation from Barcelona. The Gremi are still the organizers of the event to which the most important decisions lie, including the proclamation of Su Componidori. The Gremio dei Contadini leads the Sartiglia on Sunday, while the Gremio dei Falegnami will lead the race on Tuesday
Drummers and Trampeters
The rhythms marked by the drums and the trumpets mark the different phases of the race and accompany the whole Sartiglia. On the day of the race, early in the morning, the group of drummers and trumpeters escort a herald who, on horseback, among the main streets of the city, reads the announcement of the Sartiglia event, inviting the people to watch the race to the star. Very striking are the costumes and the regal dresses in bright and colorful colors. They precede and announce the procession creating suggestions and expectations in the public.
THE 4 PHASES OF SARTIGLIA
La Vestizione (The Dressing)
The dressing is the most solemn ceremony of the event that takes place at the headquarters of the gremio. The “massaieddas”, the young girls dressed in traditional oristanese costume bring Su Componidori dresses on a special basket called corbula. Then follow “sa Massaia manna” the woman who will oversee the entire ceremonial of dressing.
Su Componidori wears leather pants, a white shirt and a coietto, a leather jacket that extends like a kilt to the front. At the end of the ceremony the mysterious mask is placed on the knight’s face. This is one of the most exciting moments of the entire Sartiglia ceremonial: the man turns into Su Componidori. The arrangement on the head of an embroidered veil and the cylinder finish the dressing of the one who can not touch the ground until the end of the races. In fact, an artisan accompanies the horse up to sa mesitta, the table where the knight transfigured: from there, Componidori will mount on his elegantly harnessed horse.
The Race to the star
Su Componidori will first try his luck trying to catch the target at a great gallop, then it will be the turn of his two aides. Then all the other knights will be taking part and given the honor of holding the sword. In fact, he will only be able to choose who among the participating riders will face the path to grasp the star. The riders who succeed in capturing another star on the second day of Sartiglia will receive a small gold star as a prize. When Componidori arrives at the end of the race, he returns to the path showing the swords used and that will be delivered to the maximum authority of the Gremio. Here he receives the Stocco, the wooden spear. Only he and his teammates will be granted the honor of facing the path again and groped for one last time the star
The pariglie Race
The race takes place in via Mazzini, a path that remains outside the ancient walled city. From here the daring acrobatics of the knights take off, which after months of preparation give vent to their enthusiasm and their abilities. The series of developments on the pariglia de su Componidori opens. The three riders make the transition with the paired horses led by the side riders while the head-guard faces the path with his hands on the shoulders of his companions. In recent years, high school performances mark a unique and unrepeatable spectacle. The last step on the path is once again tackled by su Componidori with his team. The closing of the race is marked by the passage of the head coach that performs another Remada.
La svestizione (The undressing)
The concluded event has its term in the ceremony of undressing the leader. Approaching the horse up to sa mesitta, once again making sure that it does not touch the ground, dismounts from the horse directly on the table. Here the undressing will take place. The Massaieddas, removed the cylinder and the veil, melt the tapes that for hours have tightened the mysterious mask. Once the mask is removed it ceases on Componidori and the man’s face reappears and returns to reality
Reached the room and “sa mesitta” in complete silence, the leader can then jump on the table dismissing his horse to an artisan. The extraordinary drum roll marks the moment when the mask is removed: from that moment on Su Componidori returns a simple knight.
CERCA SULLA MAPPA LE STRUTTURE DISPONIBILI A ORISTANO
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