Delight yourself with our tips from the Sardinian festivity, the “Sartiglia”

Leggi in Italiano 

Hello community! we have chosen  Sardinia once again in on of our latest February trip  and it’s definitely getting my most favourite destination! this time is unfortunately not to enjoy  its marvelous sea, as its a very cold weather that freezes the island down these days, but “au contraire” we are here following on a close-up the magic of the carnival and the typical sense of hospitality you breathe this side of the Mediterranea sea.

The whole world speaks about, it’s been reported in the books, in the shows and in the museums, painted by great local artists and usually represented in all of its difference and authenticity in comparison to what we intend when thinking about its classical celebration with nice masks, colored and stars spinning, confetti everywhere raining down the sky.

“Su carrasecare”  is the pure translation of the “carnival” in Sardinian language It is indeed something different, it is ancient, ancestral, rooted in medieval traditions. It changes and it fascinates more and more as you drive across the villages of central parts of the island. Just so in the myth, in some zones of Sardinia, carnival  is tightly tied to the agricultural tradition of the island, in other areas it purely recalls to customs and uses of Spanish and Aragonese tradition.

 

Here in the Sardinian carnival men are exhibited in costumes recalling animal figures, often bovine, with so much of horns and cowbells, it is the case of the “boes” of the traditions carnival in the province of Nuoro, among the most known in the whole Sardinia. They represent the struggle between the animal instinct and the human reason, in fact in the carnival exhibitions the Boes itself is pursued, whipped and captured by the “Merdules” representing furious brawls.
Not to forget the “Mamuthoneses” of Mamoiada, that instead invoke a prey mystical figure to the fury and the anger, invoking the good crop in the fields to spring.

The festivity of this 2018 have represented my very first visit to the “Sartiglia” of Oristano, a celebration from the Spanish influence, the same name Sartiglia in itself contains Castilian roots. “Sortija”  from the Latin “sorticula” or rather ring, holds back in itself the diminutive “sors” for fortune. It consists in the attempt of the riders to center a target, eight pointed shaped, with a big hole at the center, suspended to a green ribbon, with their sword, the masked knights challenge the fate, and catching the star promises good hope.

The head racer is “Su componidori” (photo above).

Such name translated by the Sardinian language campidanese is something similar to the “compounder” in a matter of a horse race. Wearing purely an androgynous mask he is the Lord of the Gremio, the party of farmers or carpenters in the village. This true protagonist, man and woman at the same time, is born during a public clothing ritual, celebrated by girls that wear ancient customs.

A carnival of food and Sardinian tradition to be exported!

It’s been a visit of pure enjoyable taste, we have visited the beloved ones, and the angles of our childhood. Here among the streets and the locks of the ancient doors that we have sneaked by the mediterranean village, a themed party of local food exposed to the public.

 Unique products, Among the balconies and the shops set to party, we have met fantastic people that have spoken to us of their land settling the typical products of it, with love and with pride, as a great artist would show his more beautiful work to his own public.

Sardinia is this, it is a’ beautiful work of art of Mother Nature and imagine her as a  signature of the Good god that seems to have left his footsteps in the Mediterranean Sea, as you may notice watching at his shape seeing it on a the map.

Sardinia is the authenticity of whom has created unique products pushed by the passion for his own land and the desire to make it famous to the world

The organic cosmetic products of Mr. Nicola and his homonym “Oleificio Marras” it is testimony of it.
Oleificio stands for “olive oil” producers, indeed from a careful and accurate oil production he reaches the sector of the cosmetic through the use of the same, obtaining some really unique and delicate and protective products for the body. 

The agricultural firm “Oleifico Marras” is a new small reality that is born from the wish of Nicola Marras to practice family tradition pairing it with modern knowledges. We have met the owner, that exposed fiercely the products of his workshop, and he speaks to us of his own interest to export in England and Europe.

(their product can be viewed  and checked on his website)

The passion for the territory in which alive and the studies in the agrarian sector, have allowed to get a product is simple yet “traditional”,  through modern methods of manifactury in the respect of the characteristics of the olive oil.

His farms are located where the business was born in the town of Aidomaggiore near Oristano, east coast of Sardinia. The landscape that surrounds it is predominantly busy from secular olive-groves that testify as the activity of cultivation and harvest of the olives has been in past and is today still radically stamped in the tradition and through the new generations, so it evolves towards new trends.
A true reality that gives life and feeds the economy of the families of the zone. The mastery in to create cosmetic of the Sig. Nicola is at the disposal of whoever wants to hand questions and to ask more details! We have certainly discovered excellent and indeed original cosmetic products and have delighted our palate with his incredibly velvety olive oil.

 From the Marras olive oil stand, we move through other exposers, meeting   “Riso Passiu”  farmers and producers of quality rice. The carnaroli, from the narrow form and lengthened considered by the chefs, the best for dishes what risotti to every style and ingredient.

The Aromatic rice, belonging to the family of the “Superfini” appreciated for its crispy taste and unique aroma exalted during the cooking process. It is born from the intersection between the varieties Basmati and Thai, introduces him with a grain tapered of crystalline white color.
The celebrated yet famous “gioiello”  translated Jewwl, ia the Black quality of rice, not found in any other part by the unmistakable black-violet color and by the perfume and particular taste. In beginnings of 2017 it has made official entry in the market: from Sardinia in the whole Italy, The rice “Jewel” called so just because it is an unique variety, it is found only in this side of the Sardinian island. In their 120 hectares  in which he produces rice Carnaroli, a small part of land has been reserved to the black rice, Whose dark and natural colour stands  in the green surrounding fields.

 The trumpets sound on the circuit of the Sartiglia, but we are late still wandering about among the stands of the central plaza devoted to Eleonora d’Arborea.

yes! we Are still buying the last “zippole” and the last pastries assuring us therefore a good substantial and energetic dessert!

IT don’t matter if following any kind of diet when in Italy, and it is us again, one more time  in one of the most beautiful artistic demonstrations and gastronomy of the Sardinian island.
The evening visits at the street market, right after the parade in mask with the Sardinian riders, is full of so much tradition and local hospitality:

The works of the Master of the cork Pietro Pinna in exposure to the village Sartiglia, among glasses, jugs, vases, small and great door keys and gadget of every type, make everyone walking among the public just curious, for something unique to buy in these street, to be carried in the luggage of the memories and souvenirs! Perfect ideas gift those of the artisan of Bultei, that also prepares “covers” made to measure, handmade folders  for food and drinks menu of cafes and restaurants.
“Only cork” of Pietro Pinna is in Bultei (his page can be checked via this link).

These photos show off to the others stands at the Mediterranean village, discussing of territory inspired productivity and sustainable food servings… we came across the producers of Pasta di farro, meaning  “Spelt style made Pasta” of Agricultural firm MUSIO from Samatzai, of the homonym place in the province of Cagliari.

Their first base dishes of pasta of farro were mostly delicious!In Sardinia there is then that beautiful sea. what the rich travellers of the Mediterranean one have for centuries tried to conquer, today’s tourists say to love him/it, others love to tell the island in his wide and beautiful sinuous instead forms, as me that I return even there in January!!
… I speak of an unbelievable sea for how outstanding it is!
The fishermen of the Sinis as the our dear Sig. Renzo describes from his boat, veering to all to the rock-cliff of St. Giovanni toward the part north of the gulf, bravely bringing to fish me in that angle in which apparently the biggest squids of the Mediterranean Sea are roused, and the sub chase with astuteness the notorious curls of sea, for an excellent first dish, sprinkled of a rain of bottarga of Cabras.

Even in shore to the sea in one of the so many local restaurants! My little experience in the fishing has done her from master and me due son to be satisfied with this three small fishes that he calls “glances!” Me of “glances” have launched so many of it in this small trip in boat, must admit not to be assembles a lot me on the fishing reed, alas for the objective of the camera, I give you therefore some release, promising that to the next one, will fish something in more and will organize a beautiful grigliata for everybody!!

 

 

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