Sa Sartiglia, the famous procession and
tournament, takes place, every year, on the last Sunday of Carnival and
on Shrove Tuesday. The horserace was probably brought in Europe by the
Crusaders (XII century) which discovered it from the Saracens. Only during
the XV century sa Sartiglia had a remarkable growth.
The word Sartiglia derived from the Spanish Sortija which originates from
the Latin Sorticula (ring). According to some historical studies it results
that a ring was originally used and the knights have to run their sword
into the hole. Nowadays, instead of the ring, a star (with a hole in the
middle) hanging from a string at the middle of via Duomo is used.
Su Componidori
Su Componidori is the most important figure of the tournament; he was chosen not only for his skills but also for his proven integrity.