4 Island Festivals Not to Miss in 2018

Sicily and Sardinia, which you can explore on our La Bella Sicily and Savor Sardinia bike tours, have been the battleground of significant power struggles in the Mediterranean. They are the home to Moorish legends and Greek Myths, to Genovese kings and the Knights Templar. This unique history has given rise to festivals that are as rich and varied as the islands themselves.

I couldn’t mention every festival in every town in the islands in this post. However if you have the time this year to make it to the Mediterranean, here are four island festivals you won’t want to miss:

The Procession of the Trapani Mysteries, Sicily

During Holy Week, the islands are filled with all kind of processions, but none is as interesting as the Procession of the Trapani Mysteries. An ancient parade, the procession features some twenty statues representing the passion and the death of Christ. The city’s Spanish origins actually forbade passion parades. So these statues are artistic representations sponsored by the guilds of the city.

Procession of the Giants Messina, Sicily

Legend says that Grifone (a Moor) fell in love with Mata, daughter of Cosimo II. Cosimo did not approve of the marriage and Grifone kidnapped the young maiden. Mata vowed to marry the Moor only after he had converted to Christianity and so he did, and they founded the city of Messina. Huge paper-maché statues of Mata and Grifone are paraded through the streets of Messina from the 10th to the 14th of August, just before Ferragosto.

Il Girotonno Carloforte, Sardinia

In late June, the island of San Pietro in southwestern Sardinia hosts the annual red tuna festival. The festival demarcates an ancient tradition of tuna fishing near Sulcis, but has come to attract hundreds of starred chefs from Italy, Norway, and Japan. It’s a gastronomic experience not to be missed along Carloforte’s pastel-colored village set by the seaside.

Sa Sartiglia in Oristano, Sardinia

Some say the jousts of Sa Sartiglia come from the knights of the 2nd Crusade, who imported Saracen traditions to Sardinia. Some say the ritual is pre-Christian in origin. Either way, this Carnevale parade is worth seeing. Everything is ornately decorated with flowers and bright colors while the participants and horsemen are eerily masked to hide their identities.

Find out more about our bike tours in Sicily and Sardinia—two Mediterranean islands with distinctive cultures and fascinating histories.

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