From Friday 2nd to Monday 5th May , Sant'Antioco hosts the 666th Feast of St. Antioco Martyr Patron Saint of Sardinia , an event that combines faith, tradition and entertainment in a unique atmosphere in the historic centre of the city and on the seafront.
The traditional religious celebrations will once again be experienced and accompanied by moments of intense spirituality; do not miss the procession of women only who carry su Coccoi de su Santu to the Basilica to be blessed, as the wives and mothers of the island did in the past. This is the name of the bread decorated with floral motifs, ears of corn and bunches of grapes, which the women of Sant'Antioco prepare as a gift to the Patron Saint of Sardinia. A unique bread, also in the shape of a heart just like an ex voto, with laborious preparation and slow cooking. The procession of women only takes place on Saturday 3 May in the afternoon, while on the evening of Monday 5 May the solemn mass and the evocative procession in Honor of the Saint are celebrated at the Basilica of S. Antioco Martire.
The groups in traditional dress, the knights, the traccas and the launeddas players will parade along the streets of the city accompanying the Saint along the route through the streets of the historic centre and the seafront.
But it will also be four days of civil celebrations, with lots of music, meetings and cultural insights, entertainment and tastings of typical dishes and local products.
It starts on Friday 2nd with the presentation and inauguration of the Local Producers Market , an exhibition and sale of typical local products. Every day you can attend the preparation activities of typical dishes with local ingredients, experiential workshops on bread, with the preparation of su Coccoi del Santo, classic Coccoi, and bread with tomato. Tastings of Carignano wine produced by the island's cellars and the traditional gastronomy of lagoon fish will complete, together with the many stories of faith and tradition, the offer to be discovered in Piazza De Gasperi.
Saturday 3rd , a great day of show cooking with Chef Luigi Pomata presented by the journalist Francesca Figus and live music from 9.30pm in Piazza Ferralasco.
Sunday 4th , in the morning two important insights at the Municipal Library : the first concerns sustainable tourism with the widespread hospitality project while the second the creation of a first guide to Antiochian cuisine combined with the ungrafted Carignano wine , a typical product of the Island. Also in the morning is the parade of knights through the historic center of the city , accompanied by the Drummers and Trumpeters Association of the City of Oristano . The parade introduces one of the most anticipated events, the return of the Pariglie to the Garden Park , with spectacular equestrian performances that will enchant the public. To continue we move to Piazza De Gasperi to watch the challenge between young Chefs presented by the journalist Tessa Gelisio. The evening ends with musical performances from 9:30 pm in Piazza Ferralasco.
There will be plenty of moments for the whole family: the Cartoon Fest will give the little ones and their parents a space of pure fun with themed shows and animations.
Monday 5th , after the solemn ceremony in honour of the Saint, which takes place in the late afternoon, the grand finale will be an extraordinary fireworks display , which will light up the sky of Sant'Antioco with colours and magic, and lots of music in Piazza Ferralasco.
An unmissable edition, between devotion, tradition and great show, a unique opportunity to experience Sant'Antioco!
All the details of the program can be found on www.visitsantantioco.info