The Cavalcata Sarda (literally Sardinia Horse-ride) is a hundred-year-old celebration which attracts, ever year, thousand of people from all over the island and several tourists.
In a single day more than 70 villages from all the Provinces of Sardinia come together for the event. They all meet up in Sassari to celebrate their common origin as well as the many differences that make their beautiful Sardinia such an interesting region. Differences expressed in their antiquate and multi-coloured costumes, in their precious jewels, but mostly in their dances and songs - typical of their particular village or town.
The roots of this celcebration go back to the parade organised to honour the visit of King Umberto I and his Queen, Margherita of Savoy, to Sassari in 1899.
The parade was organised to show their Majesties the pride, power and richness of the ex-colony of the Sardo-Piedmont Kingdom. The modern version of the parade, which can be admired every year on the third Sunday of May in Sassari, has undergone new and important additions to the original formula. The parade of the folk groups, in fact, has been coupled with a horse riding show which takes palce after the morning parade at the local hippodrome in the afternoon. During this show, the excellent horsemen of Sardinia, demonstrate their courage and abilities by riding their mounts at full speed while performing some very difficult stunts.
In the evening people meet up again in Piazza Italia, where they listien to folk groups singing or watch them performing their traditional dances.
The parade is a great chance to admire the spectacular Sardinian handmade costumes and jewels which are recognised as being the most varied and beautiful traditional dresses in Italy.
The next parade will be on the 22nd of May in Sassari.
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