S’Ardia horse race in Sedilo, Sardinia
I have already published a picture of S’Ardia, a festival I’m particularly close to as I’ve been attending it since I was born. This year I managed to shoot a video in the hope to give a better idea of it. This local feast lasts three days and the townspeople wait for it all year long. I’m not originary from Sedilo, but my mother is, and so both paternal and maternal sides of her family. This is why I can sense at least a little their devotion to this festival.
The celebrations start in the church square with the priest’s blessing of the riders, who afterwards parade along the village main street up to the sanctuary of Saint Constantine 2 km away introduced by Oristano’s Wind Orchestra Eleonora d’Arborea. The sanctuary rests on a tiny hill overlooking the beautiful Lake Omodeo. The small church is busy with pilgrims all year, and this is largely visible as its inside walls are clothed with pictures and vows of faithful asking the Saint to heal, help and give assistance in any way.
The three “flags”, the first three riders racing uphill towards the sanctuary
The main interpretation of the race is the commemoration of the Milvian Bridge battle that saw Emperor Constantine defeat Maxentius between the 27th and the 28th of October 312 AD. The first three horse riders are the Emperor and his generals and the following three their guards carrying a wooden stick to chase the rest of the riders who embody the enemies away (and they do beat them heavily!). However, the festival is so ancient that its origins are lost in the mists of time. Very likely it was born as a pagan ritual later incorporated by the Catholic religion, similarly to most of our festivals.
The race never fails to attract thousands of spectators, who stare in awe till the end. It’s a wild, dangerous and suggestive race, riders are the best in the island, horses seem not even fully tamed, accidents are copious every year, more than one riders died during the run, and probably this overdose of adrenaline is what makes it a truly undying tradition and an unmissable annual date.
In my video I tried to reproduce the emotions of the day, but to fully understand what goes on in those minutes, the only way is to plan a trip to Sedilo and see it for yourself. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.
Des frissons rien qu’à regarder la video!
Comme toujours à Saint Constantin
Simply the best!
eheh true!
And I bet the thundering of the horses galloping across the field made the whole show more exciting. I’d love to see this in person. Horses always fascinating.
Definitely, this race is very famous, and all the sweat and dust make it even more suggestive!
This would be so cool to see in person. The crowds are crazy!
It was really wild, like every year!
Looks fuc*** awesome! Great video too. They just don’t have events like this in the US haha…
eheh pretty impossible, every single festival we have in Sardinia is centuries older than the US itself
This race has something ancestral only ancient traditions can have..
I would LOVE to see this! Looks a little scary that people are so close to the race, but I think that’s what I like about it!
I think sometimes there have been some accidents involving the public, but now it’s much safer than it was before. In the origins it was not meant to be a “show”, spectators were just a collateral element, even now if nobody goes to see the race, riders run anyway, they run because this is what they’ve been doing for centuries on that day, nothing else..
What a tradition! And those horses are beautiful…
Beautiful and worshiped, definitely the stars of the day
What an incredible festival. Your photos are striking. Now I’m definitely adding this to our wish list of travel events. Thanks for letting us know about it!
Thanks Deb, you won’t be disappointed!
Great post! The video was fantastic
Thanks Samuel
That’s a pretty fierce race and one that would be fun to see. Yet another interesting thing to experience in Sardinia.
If you happen in Sardinia in those dates, by all means go to see S’Ardia!!
I hadn’t heard of this before… it looks amazing! plus Sardinia is a pretty awesome travel destination on it’s own already
True, fascinating and interesting things to visit and explore around every corner!
looks like quite the adventure!
For sure it’s an overdose of adrenaline!
Those crowds are incredible but, I think you’re right, you’d need to see it in person to really appreciate it!
Definitely, only seeing it in person you can feel the adrenaline
Looks like an incredible festival! Glad you could include a video.
It’s incredible indeed, I’ve seen all my life and I never get tired of it.