The Cavalcata Sarda is the big Spring Festival in Sardinia: it takes place the second last Sunday of May in Sassari, in the northeastern side of the island. It celebrates the beginning of the spring and also it marks the beginning of the tourist season. In the past processions were organized in order to give a solemn welcome to illustriois guests. There were fascinating processions of men and women that wore their most beautiful and most colourful clothes. The event was  born  to celebrate the visit of the King of italy in the 1899 to unveil the statue of Vittorio Emanuele in Piazza Italia, the main square of the city.

There will be about 3000 people from all over Sardinia that will be wearing their traditional costumes: it is a living celebration of the island's folklore and a time for joy, singing and dancing. On Sunday the festival features a colourful parade of costumes in the morning, a unique exhibition of acrobatic horse riding in the afternoon, then more folk songs and dances in the evening.

For further information:
www.cavalcatasarda.com
www.comune.sassari.it

Photo n.1 and 2: Mario Pintus - www.lacavalcatasarda.com