Sant'Efisio

On May 1, the festival dedicated to Sant'Efisio is celebrated in Cagliari, which represents one of the most important religious and folkloristic events in Sardinia.

The event has been repeated for three and a half centuries to honor the vote taken by the Cagliari Administration in 1656 to thank the Saint for freeing the city from a violent plague epidemic.

The celebrations, organized by the Brotherhood of Sant'Efisio under the patronage of the Cagliari municipality, begin with the procession that accompanies the simulacrum of the Saint from his church, in the heart of the Stampace district, to the place of martyrdom, in Nora.

The parade is opened by the characteristic “traccas”, that is, oxcarts adorned with carpets, flowers and tools. Folk groups from the eight Sardinian provinces, the knights and the militiamen follow. Then the third guardian, the Alternos (who originally represented the Viceroy and who today acts as the Mayor) and the Guardianship, parade. The golden chariot with the statue of Saint Efisio is preceded by the members of

the Brotherhood in penitential dress.

A thousand and more colors are the scenographic outline of a morning lived with great intensity, animated by a deep faith. Sounds of launeddas accompany the slow and rhythmic journey of the Saint and petals of red, pink and yellow roses cover the granite slabs of Via Roma like carpets with the characteristic “ramadura”

After the city procession, in the early afternoon, the procession leaves the city and, after stopping in Giorgino's fishing village, in the chapel dedicated to him, leaves the party clothes to wear the humblest of the countryside. There are several stops he makes before arriving at the place of his martyrdom: Capoterra, Sarroch, Villa San Pietro, Pula and finally Nora where he is awaited by a cheering crowd of devotees who welcome him singing the traditional “goccius”. Once in Nora, the simulacrum of the saint remains exposed to the devotion of the faithful in the small church on the beach,

where numerous masses are celebrated.

On May 3, the saint is transported in procession along the beach of Nora to revisit the places of his martyrdom. Finally, on May 4, the chariot with the simulacrum of the saint resumed the road back to Cagliari, retracing back the same stages of the outbound journey. Giorgino is once again wearing the rich clothes of the party. The procession, which proceeds under the light of torches, arrives in the city when it is now dark, in a silent task, welcomed by a more intimate religious atmosphere than that of May 1

Upon his arrival in the small church of Stampace, a short religious rite is celebrated in Latin and the 'Goccius' are sung in honor of the Saint.

Update

30/4/2024 - 14:00