Emotions during the carnival in Santu Lussurgiu with “Sa carrela 'e nanti”

“Sa carrela 'e nanti” is one of the most important horse race in Sardinia. Thousand visitors come to Santu Lussurgiu to attend the trials on the main road of the town, which is, on the occasion, carpeted with tamped earth. The sloping street crosses the Biadorru quarter in the old town center and it is quite narrow in order to increases the suspense during the horse race, in which the masked riders (the event is schedule in fact during the carnival period) are at the gallop alone or in pairs.

The races in pairs with the acrobatic feats offer a great show, which fascinate many spectators, who ask for hospitality in the houses or look for privileged observation places among alleys and inaccessible small stairs, which lead a little more upstream. On the margins of the race, which starts from the main square, many are the folk and the wine and food events of great impact: do not miss the performances of the local choruses (Su Cuncordu ‘e su Rosariu, Su Cuncordu Lussurzesu, Santa Rughe, Don Bosco e Sette Dolores). The manifestation "Cantigos in carrela" is very interesting.

In 2006, it is going to be the ninth edition: the week before "Sa carrela 'e nanti”, on the Saturday evening, Sardinian best choruses sing along the town roads (beyond the local chorus, normally participate also the choruses of Tempio Pausania, Pozzomaggiore, Muros and Florinas), in addition to other Italian or foreign realities. Santu Lussurgiu habitants are very friendly: on this occasion, wines, filu 'e ferru and certain typical sweets, such as the sweet "culurzones"(with almond paste) are offered to the visitors. The evening terminates with a supper in the public square.