Sant'Efisio, here is the program. No grandstands this year: «High costs»

In Cagliari we are counting down towards the 368th edition of the Feast of Sant'Efisio.

The official program of the event on May 1st - when the ritual of the pilgrimage of the statue of the saint towards Nora will be renewed - was presented today at Palazzo Bacaredda.

Once again, the president of the city council Edoardo Tocco explained today, "it will be an immersion in the cultural, musical and ethnographic treasures that distinguish Sardinia".

«A riot of sounds, colors and traditions», said Tocco and the Alter Nos Giovanni Ena . "For me it is an enormous honor - said the municipal manager chosen by the former mayor Paolo Truzzu - to represent the municipality during this occasion of faith, but also celebration and joy".

NO GRANDSTANDS – This year's edition, however, will be an edition without grandstands for the public and authorities. Technical times and high costs have in fact forced the municipal administration to give up the installation of stands along the streets of the centre.

IMPRESSIVE NUMBERS – But the numbers will be impressive as usual: 85 cultural and folkloric associations will parade along the streets of Cagliari. With a total of 2,500 devotees on foot, dressed in traditional attire. The soundtrack, together with the launeddas and the sulitus, will be based on the songs of the rosaries and the gòcius in honor of Sant'Efisio, performed mainly in the Sardinian language.

The presence of 270 horses is expected which will bring Campidanese riders and riders, platoons of militiamen and representatives of the Army. And then, the tracas, the large carts pulled by oxen, which recall the pilgrimage of devotees from the Campidano and Sulcis regions to the place of the martyrdom of Sant'Efisio.

GOLDEN TOSON – The 2024 Golden Toson award will be awarded to Francarosa Contu, head of the Isre museums sector and standard bearer for the protection of Sardinia's identity traditions. A more sober celebration on May 4th with a torchlight procession for Sant'Efisio along Viale La Plaia and through the streets of the city. Once again, devotees dressed in traditional clothing will accompany the saint on his return to Cagliari.

THE EVENTS – In addition to the two processions, the Festival will offer a series of cultural and artistic events. From the "Domus et Carcer Sancta Restituta pro Efis Martiri Gloriosu" exhibition and choral voices in the Crypt of Santa Restituta, to the video-installations, contemporary artistic performances at the Mem and open lessons on traditional music by the Ethnomusicology of Sardinia course in the Search room.

(Unioneonline/lf)