10 Island Festivals Not to Miss in 2020

Southern Europe has always been a hot destination for annual festivals. The history and folklore alone is enough to enrich any attendee. If you add that to the music, dancing and the wine, you have some of the best summer parties you could ever imagine.

These festivals create life-changing experiences. Consider the towns and communities involved in organizing these events have been bonding for ages. In fact, many of these public parties wouldn’t happen if the local people and the town legislature didn’t come together and make it happen.

And they’ve been doing it for centuries.

Although southern Europe has a disposition for festivals, the Italian Islands (primarily Sardinia and Sicily) have some of the best music, food and cultural festivities anywhere in the Mediterranean. And coupling your party-hopping with a Ciclismo Classico cycle vacation, is a win-win: you get lots of physical activity by bicycle, with a fantastic street party. What’s not to like?

For 2020, here are our top 10 picks for fabulous island festivals this year:

SARDINIA

International Street food in Sant’Antioco

Although you can’t miss Holy Week anywhere on the islands, you shouldn’t avoid the International Street Food festival on the island of Sant’Antioco. This four-day gala brings forth all the island’s best: street performers, exhibitors, nightly concerts and a lot more. It starts on April 19th and lasts until the 22nd. A great way to prime yourself for our May departure of Savor Sardinia. And where our itinerary finishes in Pula is just a short distance away from this island on the western coast of Sardinia.

Festival of Sant’Efisio

Legend tells us Efisio was the son of an aristocratic family from Jerusalem. He was captain of the Imperial Roman army when his generals sent him to Italy to fight the Christians. Yet one evening, an image of a crucifix appeared to him in a vision, making him an instant convert. He arrived in Sardina and refused to reject his faith after the local governor’s order. The city officials had him executed in 303 AD and today a church stands in his honor on the site where he was beheaded.

The festival of Sant’Efisio’s in Cagliari is a magical celebration of faith and folklore, of the sacred and profane. The procession begins at the church where the statue of Efisio is kept. Locals carry it through the streets accompanied by the sounds of the local launeddas flutes. The ox-drawn carts and the traditional costumes are all adorned with flower chains and garlands. Artisans exhibit their handmade blankets and rugs all around the city. It is a party not to miss. You’ll find all the festivities on May 1st every year just at the beginning of our May 4th departure of Sardinia.

Calvacata Sarda

The second-to-last Sunday of May you’ll find the Calvacata Sarda: a horse exhibition in honor of King Umberto I’s visit to Sassari. Sassari is a town in the north-western quadrant of the island and is very near the beginning of our Savor Sardinia departure.

Unlike most other festivals in Sardinia, this Calvacata fair is not connected to any religious themes. It dates back to 1899, when Umberto and Margarita di Savoia first come to Sassari to inaugurate a monument to Vittorio Emanuele II in Piazza Italia.

Yet, this festival is not just a foot parade of over 3,000 people dressed in ancient costumes. It is also a gathering of all Sardinians – people from a similar island yet with distinct traditions – animating the streets of Sassari, coloring them with beautiful hues, thanks to the talent of local seamstresses.
The festival goes on long into the night, accented by poetry competitions in the local dialect, songs, music, and folk dancing lasting long into the morning. It is a great addition to an early start in Sardinia before our June 15th departure.

Bosa Wine Festival

These days, it’s hard to be in Sardinia and not stumble across a wine festival. The Bosa Wine Festival is one of the most popular on the island. Held in the town of Bosa – near Oristano on the west coast and just minutes away from the beginning of our Savor Sardinia experience – this wine festival is a unique adventure. At the bottom of the Malaspina castle walls, in the medieval center of Bosa, is the center of the Sardinian wine production celebration.

This two-day gastronomic extravaganza marries the Sardinian kitchen with the best of the island’s harvest. Chefs and enologists from all over the island converge on this small hamlet offering elaborate dishes paired with the island’s finest wines.

Entry to the festival is free. But if you want to taste the fare (and why would you go to a wine festival only to abstain?) it costs just €15 per person for an etched glass, a wine-glass holder, and 6 coupons to use in any of the hundred wineries exhibiting. You can expect to find the festival during the first week of June, right before our second bike departure of the island.

Focs de San Juan

And just after our second Sardinia departure is a fantastic exhibition of fire and friendship on the coast of San Giovanni beach, near Alghero. The festival of San Giovanni is a time to celebrate brotherhood and friendship during the summer solstice.

Immagine several fires lit along the beach at night, with festival participants jumping through them, strengthening their bond to one another. Dressed in white, these dedicated members receive their fire in the late evening. Walking through the streets of Alghero, they are accompanied by flag throwers and fanfare as they slowly reach the beach. Along the coast, there is regular music and food, with a party going into the late hours of the morning as only the Sardinians know how to do!

SICILY

Infiorata di Noto

The springtime heralds many flower festivals, but nothing rivals the L’infiorata of Noto in Sicily.  The festival focuses on a “floral rug,” of sorts, covering the entire length of Via Corrado Nicolaci. These designs, conceptualized and designed by local artists, are inspired by a single theme chosen each year. The designs themselves – covering 700 square meters – use over 400 thousand flowers, among which are margaritas, roses, carnations, and many field flowers.

The festival is held on the third Sunday of May, starting on the previous Thursday.  This year it will take place on May 24th and fits in perfectly between our first and second departures of La Bella Sicilia. During the four days of festival, visitors can appreciate the rich baroque patrimony of the city and attend several cultural events, concerts and theatrical events; all held inside the marvelous and luxurious noble palaces of this baroque city.

Festa di San Giorgio

The festival of San Giorgio in Ragusa is more than a simple religious event. It is an age-old rivalry in a city of only 70,000 people.

In 1643, Pope Bonifacio VIII elected Saint George the Patron Saint and Protector of the city. Since that time, rivalry and confrontation have occurred between the sangiovannari and the sangiorgiari. Followers within the same religion (Catholicism) considered the two saints adversaries. For many years the inhabitants of Ragusa held divisions, channeling their spite against the disciples of the rival saint.

Today, the festival of San Giorgio is celebrated during the last Sunday of May or the beginning of June. The festivities continue over three days with food, wine and many outdoor activities. During the processions, the young men carry the statue of San George on his horse through the tiny streets of Ibla. They take time bowing toward major churches of the village and to the elderly of the Saint’s brotherhood.

The Sunday of the festival is announced by loud church bells and cannon fire. As once again the statue is taken around on the shoulders of the villagers, making it dance to their cries of “tutti Truonu!”  Be sure to catch Saint George towards the end of our second La Bella Sicilia departure.

Syracuse: Greek Classical Theatre festival

Once upon a time, Syracuse used to be one of the most densely populated cities in Ancient Greece. The powerful Magna Grecia built an immense classical city along the coast, along with temples and – of course – a beautiful theatre.

The Classical Theatre festival in Sicily is one of the island’s most prestigious events.  From the 8th of May to the 5th of July, the festival will stage many classical pieces. Expect to find The Clouds by Aristophanes and The Bacchae by Euripides among other great pieces.

This year the tech crew has built a stunning Trojan forest in center stage. As the sun sets, these trees cast foreboding shadows giving atmosphere to Greek tragedy. Be sure to get your fix of classical theatre in an ancient Greek structure before or after our La Bella Sicilia trips this summer.

Festa della Ricotta

In case you haven’t already read everything there is to know about ricotta cheese you can always check out the annual Ricotta festival in Vizzini every April.

Vizzini – home to Giovanni Verga – has set itself on the center of the national stage of quality ricotta production. Anywhere in Sicily will try to convince you of their ricotta quality. However, Vizzini – with a population committed to ancient farming techniques – has dedicated itself to high quality cheese. The cows and sheep in the area make some of the best Sicilian ricotta. And as a result, the best in Italy.

This small village dedicates two days to the regional event. They not only present some of the best ricotta (and other) cheese from the countryside, but also instruct many visitators on the traditional ways of making this delicacy.

And the Sicilians know how to through a party: the festival is accompanied by theatre, folklore, and culture. Come check out the cheeses before our first Sicily departure.

Sagra del Miele

This small village in the province of Syracuse produces some best honey on the island. Cicero once stated to the Roman Senate that Sicily had the best honey in the Empire – and he was right. Today, Sortino is a center of melittology and is home to some of Italy’s best bee-keepers.

At the end of September every year, Sortino holds its annual honey festival. Local beekeepers fill the city squares with tables and stands packed with sweets and specialities using many varieties of honey.

One of the most exciting events is when local apiarists hand out lo spiritu ri facitrari (a honey liquor garnished with cooked honey) or sanfurricchi (honey toffees). Local musicians, exhibitions and guided tours of the Pantalica necropolis turn this sweet festival into something to buzz about. And on our September departure of Sicily, we roll right through Sortino!

Whether your trip takes you to Savour Sardinia or through La Bella Sicilia, Ciclismo Classico will give you something to party about! Come check out this year’s festivals with us! Contact us to learn more.