Italy > The Cavalcata Sarda Festival

After breakfast, we maneuver the car out of the garage again. This goes more easily since there are no cars parked next to us anymore. We set off for Nuraghe Santu Antine. Because we only have enough fuel left to drive about one hundred kilometers, we also need to refuel somewhere. Just outside Alghero, we drive into the mountains. It’s a beautiful route with many curves. On this Sunday morning, we hardly encounter any traffic. This works well with the roadworks, where one lane is closed for kilometers. However, we don’t come across any gas stations. The remaining driving distance keeps decreasing. To be safe, we set the navigation to the nearest gas station. This turns out to be twenty kilometers further — still within reach. When we arrive at the gas station a little later, we are relieved it is open on Sunday. We fill up the car. Nuraghe Santu Antine is one of the most impressive and best-preserved Nuraghi on Sardinia. This prehistoric tower is one of the most striking remnants of the Nuragic civilization, which flourished in the second millennium BC. When we enter the characteristic cylindrical structure, we can wander through an internal system of stairs and rooms. Via a stone spiral staircase, we reach the first and second floors. Today, the tower is seventeen meters high. In the past, there must have been another floor above.

Italy - One of the bestpreserved Nuraghe towers

Until today, it is not exactly known why these towers were built — as tomb monuments, defense structures, or community spaces. According to new theories, the last is most likely. At the complex, we meet many other Dutch visitors. They are touring the island and today are traveling from Sassari to Bosa. We are going the other way. After a coffee break, we drive to Sassari. Sassari is the second largest city of Sardinia. Today is the second Sunday in May, the day when the Cavalcata Sarda festival is held. The traditional festival includes a horse parade and cultural processions through the city. We are clearly not the only ones looking for a parking spot. To our relief, we find a parking garage. Or so we think. We take a ticket, but inside there is no space at all. Dozens of cars drive around searching for a spot. We try other parking areas in the center. Eventually, we end up at Parcheggio Della Conta, where there is still space. We quickly park the car. We follow the signs to the Duomo, the cathedral of Sassari. In the narrow streets of the old town, it is deserted. No one is on the street. When we ask at the cathedral about the festival, we are told it is at Piazza d’Italia. But it is almost over, the man adds, while looking at his watch. We hurry to the square. A large crowd is coming towards us. The procession has already ended. However, there are still many stalls along the route. We order a hamburger sandwich with cola. The hamburger also comes with fries — an unusual combination.

Italy - Construction began in the late 11th century

We come across a sort of street market. We walk between the stalls. Here and there we see people still dressed in their traditional costumes. From the festival route, we walk back into the old town. In the narrow streets, there are nice houses but also many dilapidated buildings. It’s a pity no maintenance is done here, so the city is falling into decay. The cathedral only reopens late in the afternoon. The façade of the Cattedrale di San Nicola is impressive, with an imposing Gothic rose window and a Renaissance portal. The façade is decorated with statues and reliefs depicting saints and biblical figures. We walk back to the car. Near Sassari is the Basilica di Saccargia. The construction of the Basilica di Saccargia began in the late 11th century and was completed in the early 12th century. It was built as a monastery church for the Benedictine order. Only some remnants of the monastery remain. The basilica is built in 12th-century Romanesque-Pisan architecture with its colored stone bands. The church is definitely worth the detour. At the end of the afternoon, we return to Alghero. In the evening, we go to the center for the last time to eat. We choose a nice little restaurant on Piazza Municipio.