The Ardia of Sedilo between “balentìa” and vow of faith

It is a feast of ancient tradition (not less than four centuries) which reaches its peak in a wild horse race in the valley looked over by the sanctuary of San Costantino Imperatore (in the local dialect Santu Antine). The Ardia of Sedilo is run on the 6th and on the 7th July to celebrate the victory of Costantino over Massenzio in the battle of Ponte Milvio (312 A.C.), which maked him Imperatore di Occidente (Imperator of the west).

The “capocorsa” (the head of the race) called “pandela matzòre” starts the race beginning unexpectedly from the promontory, which dominates the church: he leaps his horse in a breakneck speed race, along the slope which leads to the narrow Arco di Costantino (The Arch of Costantino) and the other riders give chase to him and reach him behind the church.

Just the time to thin out the cloud of dust, and the contestants make seven laps trot around the sanctuary. Then they gallop again to the hedge of the Muredda, where they make other three laps before the final race to the church. The riders represent the guard of the Imperator Costantino. The day after, the inhabitants of Sedilo go on pilgrimage on foot , starting from the dawn of the town and arriving till the sanctuary.