The Festha Manna, the city's identity event, has begun in Sassari.
This morning, Mayor Giuseppe Mascia and the Massai Guild traveled from the Palazzo Ducale to the Palazzo di Città, on Corso Vittorio Emanuele, the city hall for the day. The banner of the Massai, the oldest guild in the capital of the province , was stripped of its willow and nightshade, symbols of belonging to the land, and was dressed and displayed on the building's terrace .
A sign of a takeover while tonight, the same association will be the last to descend during the Faradda.
THE ROUTE – The journey of the thirteen wooden candles, one for each Guild, carried between two lines of people by eight bearers, will begin at 6:00 PM from Piazza Castello. The route passes through Largo Cavallotti, Piazza Azuni, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, Corso Vico, arriving at Santa Maria. The order of descent is also predetermined: the Laborers will lead the way, followed by the Bus, Tram, and Ferry Workers, Butchers, Blacksmiths, Stonemasons, Wayfarers, Farmers, Carpenters, Greengrocers, Shoemakers, Tailors, Bricklayers, and, of course, the Farmers.
The mayor and the authorities will await the procession's passage at the Palazzo di Città, on Corso Vittorio Emanuele, the seat of the municipality for a day. Once the last Candeliere, that of the Massai, arrives, the Guild's obriere will ascend to the Palazzo di Città for the traditional "zent'anni" toast with the mayor. From there, the municipality will accompany the Faradda to Santa Maria . The candles will enter the church square in reverse order to their descent, welcomed by Father Guardian Salvatore Sanna . Before the statue of the Virgin, with the candles placed around it, the Archbishop of Sassari Francesco Soddu will impart his blessing and the vow to the Madonna will finally be fulfilled. At the end, the mayor, accompanied by the Massai, will return to the Ducal Palace for the Intregu ritual which will see the outgoing Marcello Pittalis replace the incoming Emilio Polo as major worker of the Guild.
