Feast of Sant'Efisio without stands due to a bureaucratic mix-up in the Municipality, but also no square dancing or music festival on the evening of May 1st ( HERE IS THE NEWS ). And the people of Cagliari are divided . Let's be clear, the procession is guaranteed. The entire outline will be missing.
It is especially young people who are disappointed , those who usually stay late to fully enjoy the event. Guys like Stefano Merella, a thirty-year-old restaurateur from Nuoro: «It's sad to miss part of the celebration» , he says while he is at the foot of the steps of the church of Sant'Anna, in the heart of Stampace, the historic neighborhood of the Saint, «many people came to sing and dance, now he won't come anymore . Everyone follows the procession but all they expect is folklore."
However, the faithful who pay attention to the religious sphere and celebrate the martyr with passion are not so upset . «I'm certainly not happy about having missed a part of the event» claims Carla Vacca, a pensioner, «but perhaps this way we will return to the origins, when more importance was given to the procession . I'm going for that."
A situation that also divides shopkeepers . «Since they put up the stands, people have been stuck, they haven't been able to get to my bar», claims Rino Gaviano from behind the counter at Caffè Pruner. «Probably», he adds, « without scaffolding this year people will walk around more ».
But Gaviano's hopes are contrasted by the experience of Stefano Deias, owner of Pan Caffè Palabanda, in via Palabanda: «In recent years we have always been open, but in my area the clientele has gradually decreased. This year, given that there aren't even any grandstands and there will be less turnout, I have decided to remain closed for May 1st ."
This year's edition has created many doubts . To get an answer you just have to wait until May 4th , when the statue of Sant'Efisio will be brought back to his church and you can take stock.