La Sartiglia
7–9 February 2027 · Via Duomo, Oristano
La Sartiglia is Oristano's spectacular Carnival event, held on the last Sunday of Carnival and on Shrove Tuesday. Around 120 masked horsemen in colourful, Spanish-inspired costumes take over the historic centre for two days of racing, acrobatics and ritual.
At its heart is the Corsa alla stella: at full gallop along Via Duomo, each knight tries to pierce a hanging tin star with his sword. Every star caught is a good omen for the year's harvest.
History and tradition
The Sartiglia has medieval, Spanish roots: the name comes from the Castilian sortija, the ring that knights tried to spear in the jousting tournaments introduced to Sardinia under Aragonese rule. The oldest surviving record dates from 1546.
The central figure is Su Componidori, the knight chosen by the guild. Dressed in a ceremony that makes him an almost divine, androgynous figure, from that moment on he must not touch the ground until the festivities end. After the race he blesses the crowd with sa Pippia de Maiu, a bundle of violets and periwinkles.
The two days belong to the city's ancient guilds: the Sunday is organised by the Gremio dei Contadini (the farmers), the Tuesday by the Gremio dei Falegnami (the carpenters). The children's version, the Sartiglietta, runs on the Monday in between.
Moments from the Sartiglia
The two days
The ritual follows the same stages on both days — the full programme with times is published by the organisers a few weeks before the event.
La Sartiglia
Via Duomo, Oristano- Late morningVestizione di Su Componidori
- Early afternoonCorteo e corsa alla stella in via Duomo
- Late afternoonLe Pariglie in via Mazzini
- At duskSvestizione
The first day opens with the ritual dressing of Su Componidori, chosen by the guild on Candlemas. After the star race he rides back lying across the horse to bless the crowd — sa Remada.
Sartiglietta
Monday 8 February · Via Duomo, OristanoOn the Monday in between, children replay the Sartiglia in miniature: little knights in costume, a tiny star race and pariglie on ponies along Via Duomo.
La Sartiglia
Via Duomo, Oristano- Late morningVestizione di Su Componidori
- Early afternoonCorteo e corsa alla stella in via Duomo
- Late afternoonLe Pariglie in via Mazzini
- At duskSvestizione
On Shrove Tuesday the carpenters' guild repeats the same rites. The masked knights take their last gallops along Via Duomo before the mask is removed at dusk and Carnival comes to an end.
The order of the ceremony is fixed, but the times above are indicative: the official programme is published a few weeks before the event.
Stay at Casa Miúda
Casa Miúda is the perfect base for the Sartiglia: a cosy house with a garden in Cabras, a 20-minute drive from Via Duomo. Park the car, watch the races, and come back to the quiet of the lagoon and the beaches of the Sinis.
Where
The 2027 edition has ended. See you next year!