The Sartiglia de Oristano: a unique experience
Participating in the Sartiglia de Oristano is always an exciting event. You can feel the tension in the air ahead of the Stella joust and the acrobatic "pariglie." The Sartiglia is the most famous medieval festival in Sardinia and it's celebrated on Fat Tuesday before Lent during the general Carnival season. It was originally organized by farmers and carpenters’ co-operatives. The knights with their shields (who, by the way, aren't allowed to touch the ground after their dressing ceremony for fear of losing their divine blessing) ride towards star-shaped targets hung in the street and try to pierce them with their lances. Afterwards, they put on a spectacular acrobatics show on their galloping horses.
If watching the lancing and acrobatics aren't exciting enough, you can watch the fastest and most dangerous parts of the ceremony while enjoying a good glass of Vernaccia de Oristano wine. The most highly-anticipated moment is when the main figure ("Su Componidori," in Sardinian) gallops downhill towards the star with his sword and then with his "su stoccu," a medieval mace-type weapon. The heavier the mace, the more difficult the challenge for the knight. At the end you can see the "Se Remada," a rite where the knight lies back on his sword while his horse gallops and he blindly blesses the crowd with Sa Pipia 'e Maiu.
If you’re in Sardinia, make sure to plan for the Sartiglia so you can enjoy over 500 years of tradition.
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