Cavalcata Sarda

The most famous Sardinian folklore parade started probably in 1711 when Sassari town council decided to “have a parade (literally, horse ride)” in honor of Filippo V, king od Spain, which dominated Sardinia at that time.
On April 20, 1899 the most famous “Cavalcata Sarda” (The Sardinian Ride”) took place, in honour of the king of Italy Umberto I and his wife Margherita of Savoia, who came to Sassari for the unveilling of the monument for Vittorio Emanuele II that Giuseppe Sartorio had raised in the centre of Italy Square.
“The Italian Illustration”, one of most important periodic of that time, definited it “the beauty celebration”: beauty of the queen, beauty of the riders, beauty of sardinian women and beauty of their traditional showy costumes.
It was the first big Cavalcata to which 600 horses partecipated , mainly coming from north-centre Sardinia.

In 1929 the town celebrated the visitof Vittorio Emanuele III and the Queen Elena; finally, in 1939 there was the last Cavalcata for the Royal family, in honour of the hereditary Prince Umberto of Savoia and his wife Maria Josè.

After some editions offered traditionally to princes, royals and famous guests, since the ’50s the Cavalcata was organiìzed for turistic needs. Since then till now it became a regular appointment with Sardinian folklore.

Since 1951 an edition every year has taken place, except in 1982, when two editions were organized, one of them in special honour of Sandro Pertini, at that time President of the Italian Republic.

In 2008 edition, people and costumes from 84 towns of the island partecipated to this incredible explosion of colors, costumes and proud faces.