Savouring the Fabulous Festivals of Sardinia

If you're planning on visiting Sardinia, holidays can be greatly enhanced by attending any of the many colourful festivals to absorb as much of the local culture as you can. Everything from delicious delicacies and amazing wines to awesome displays of horsemanship and enlightening tributes to major historical figures will help make your trip an unforgettable one.

Cavalcata Sarda

The first Cavalcata Sarda was a grand affair to honour the arrival of King Umberto I and Queen Margherita. Now, every second to the last Sunday of May is dedicated to the event, where hundreds of equestrians donning full traditional gear race through the domed stadium - or ippodromo - of Sassari. Sa Sartiglia

The Sa Sartiglia takes place in the middle of February, and is a festival dedicated to the knightly and martial history of Sardinia. Holidays at this time of the year will open up a world of duelling, jousting and military drills - with all participants dressed bearing the traditional arms and armour of the time.

Belvi's Cherry Festival

Many 'foodie' tourists visit foreign destinations in order to savour the local delicacies that make the most of the abundant natural resources. This is certainly true for visitors to this lovely Italian island. The harvest of the local cherries is celebrated in Belvi every second to the last Sunday of June. Cherries picked from the Gennargentu region are used in various sweets and pastries - making the local Cherry Festival a must-see for those with a severe case of sweet tooth.

Sardinia Reggae Festival

If you ever find free time during the first week or two of August, you will definitely want to check out the Reggae Festival in Sardinia. Holidays spent celebrating the local reggae scene will no doubt prove memorable for music lovers. The celebrations last for about four days and take place in various venues around the Sassari region. The gorgeous local beaches make the perfect backdrop to this unique blending of Sardinian and Jamaican cultures.

Festa della Birra Trinitaiese

If you are on the lookout for the most spectacular festival celebrating the traditional culture of the land, then you simply must find time for the Festa della Birra Trinitaiese in Sardinia. Holidays with this particular festival on the itinerary will please history and culture buffs especially. Throughout the festivities, the local streets fill with folk dance and music, street vendors hawk all sorts of wares, and trays upon trays of traditional sweets and drinks are dispensed - all this and more awaits visitors that arrive during the second weekend of August.

Sant Efisio

The first four days of May are reserved to honour Saint Ephysius - Efisio in Sardinian. He is revered for his intercession, which was said to have saved a great number of people during a severe plague in 1652. The feast of Sant Efisio has been considered the largest - and arguably the most colourful - religious procession in the entire world, with upwards of 5,000 people participating in the four-day feast.

Keep all these festivals in mind and you will be able to schedule your visit to make the most of the culture and history of the island.

Carolyn Spinks is COO of ABTOI - The Association of British Travel Organisers to Italy. If you’re looking for the perfect Sardinia holidays their LoveItaly website provides destination information, contact details of tour operator members to help you plan the best Italian holiday, ‘insider’ tips, year round special offers and information on everything from beach holidays in Sardinia, cycling in Sicily, to a wedding or honeymoon in Tuscany.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.