◉ 370TH EDITION · CONFIRMED MODE (decided 29 April evening)
No oxen anywhere in the pilgrimage. Four outbreaks of contagious nodular dermatitis in cattle in the Sarrabus (Muravera, Villaputzu, Ballao on 29 April, 215 head culled) and the Region's and ASL's ban on using oxen in Cagliari led the Arciconfraternita del Gonfalone to a drastic decision: no oxen even between Capoterra, Pula and Nora, where the restriction wouldn't apply. The majority's argument: «if not in Cagliari, better a procession that does not include them at all».
How the simulacrum moves on 1 May: · from the church of Stampace to viale La Plaia (western exit of Cagliari): carried on the confraternity members' shoulders; · from viale La Plaia onwards: loaded onto the transparent cabin vehicle of the Red Cross — the same one used six years earlier, during the 2020 Covid pandemic, for the release of the vow; · from Capoterra to Nora: aboard a truck. The gilded carriage stays in the nave at Stampace.
The 10 tracas as a living exhibition: of the 16 planned, ten were stationed along the urban route with people on board, flowers, sweets, songs and costumed children — a living exhibition that the public can admire.
◉ TRAFFIC · CITY ORDINANCES 1172, 1179 AND 1197 — CAGLIARI
1 May · departure (ord. 1172 and 1179, in force 30 Apr - 4 May): parking and transit bans along the whole procession route and the western exit towards Pula. Areas: Stampace district (via Sant'Efisio, via Tigellio, via Azuni, piazza Yenne, Corso Vittorio Emanuele), via Roma and viale Trieste, Marina district (via Baylle, via Sassari, via Crispi, piazza Matteotti), and the western exit (viale La Playa, Scafa bridge, viale Pula, via San Paolo). Total closure of via Roma 06:00-16:00 on 1 May. Piazza del Carmine: parking banned from 20:00 on 29 April.
4 May · return (ord. 1197/2026): tow-away parking ban 08:00-24:00 at the port accesses (Ponte della Scafa, viale La Plaia incl. Traversa I, via Riva di Ponente, Molo Sant'Agostino, Lungomare 11 Settembre 2001), in the centre (via Sassari, piazza Matteotti, via Roma incl. bus/taxi lanes, largo Carlo Felice, via Crispi) and along the inner route (Corso V. Emanuele, piazza Yenne, via Azuni, via Sant'Efisio, via Portoscalas, via Sant'Ignazio da Laconi). Transit ban on the procession route 19:00-24:00; earlier closure at 18:00 in piazza del Carmine and via Malta.
For Capoterra, Sarroch, Villa San Pietro and Pula, local ordinances apply, usually published by each town in the days before the procession. For Cagliari, see the City website (Mobility, Roads and Networks Service) and the Albo Pretorio.
May 1 — Departure Day
Cagliari → Sarroch
08:00Solemn High Mass at the Church of Sant'Efisio, Stampace
10:00Devotees and figures in traditional costume depart from Stampace (for 2026: no tracas, suspended in the city under the health restriction)
12:00The simulacrum of Sant'Efisio leaves the church — official start of the procession. For 2026 the saint was carried by the confraternity members without the gilded carriage: on their shoulders from Stampace to viale La Plaia, then on a white pick-up for the following stages. Tribute at the Town Hall on Via Roma (church bells, ship sirens at the port). Along the urban route, 10 of the 16 planned tracas were stationed as a living exhibition, with people on board, decorations, sweets and songs.
AfternoonStop at Giorgino (Villa Ballero), pursuant to the Ciarella family vow, documented from 1787 and made perpetual by the 1827 will
16:00Welcome of the simulacrum at La Maddalena Spiaggia (Capoterra). For 2026 the Saint arrives on the transparent cabin vehicle, without the gilded carriage and without the oxen team. Procession towards Su Loi accompanied by folk groups and the launeddas players of the Orchestra Popolare Sarda directed by Maestro Orlando Mascia
17:00Holy Mass on the parvis of the chapel of Sant'Efisio at Su Loi
18:30Departure towards Villa d'Orri — intermediate stop at the chapel of the family estate
20:30At Sarroch: welcoming procession leaves the New Church, with horsemen (Sarroch, Uta, Villa San Pietro, Pula) and folk groups (Dolianova, Sinnai, "Scianta" of Sarroch, "Santa Vittoria" Cultural Association)
21:30The Saint arrives from Cagliari, followed by a solemn torchlit procession with launeddas. Holy Mass around 23:00. The Saint stays overnight in Sarroch.
May 2 — Towards Pula and Nora
Sarroch → Villa San Pietro → Pula → Nora
07:00Farewell Holy Mass at Sarroch
07:45Procession departs Sarroch towards Villa San Pietro
09:00Entry into Villa San Pietro: procession via via Sassari, vico Cagliari, viale Cagliari, via Roma, piazza San Pietro (stop at the old chapel), via Garibaldi, via XX Settembre, via Cavour, via Carlo Alberto. For 2026 the Saint arrives on the truck, without the carriage and without oxen (Arciconfraternita decision of 29 April). Procession order: Villa San Pietro horsemen, brass band, scouts, traditional-costume groups, the Santu Perdu folk group, authorities, the parish priest, the faithful
10:15Holy Mass at the new parish church of Villa San Pietro, celebrated by parish priest Don Andrea Manunta
11:30The Saint leaves Villa San Pietro along the SS 195 towards Pula
12:00Arrival at Pula, procession with the Maestro Orlando Mascia launeddas players, the "Città di Pula" Town Band and folk groups. Eucharistic Blessing at the parish church of San Giovanni Battista
17:30Holy Mass at Pula presided by Don Walter Onano, then departure of the simulacrum towards Nora with farewell stops at the Chapel of San Raimondo and the Naval Station
EveningArrival at the Romanesque chapel of Sant'Efisio in Nora, Eucharistic blessing, then fireworks by F.lli Massa di Serdiana
May 3 — Nora and Return to Pula
Nora → Pula
08:00Morning Holy Mass (Masses celebrated throughout the day)
11:00Solemn Pontifical Mass at the sanctuary of Sant'Efisio in Nora, celebrated by the Archbishop of Cagliari, Mons. Giuseppe Baturi — the most important celebration of the three days
18:30Procession through the ancient city of Nora, down to the beach of the martyrdom
20:00Torchlit procession from Nora back to Pula, accompanied by Maestro Mascia's launeddas. Holy Mass at the parish church of Pula and fireworks display (visible from Viale Segni / Via Piave). The Saint stays overnight in Pula.
May 4 — The Great Return
Pula → Cagliari
07:00Holy Mass at the parish church of Pula and departure of the Saint for the return to Cagliari
08:30Entry at Villa San Pietro: procession via Corso Vittorio Emanuele, via Sant'Efisio, via Mazzini, via XX Settembre, piazza San Pietro (stop at the old chapel). For 2026 the Saint arrives on the truck, without the carriage and without oxen. Itinerary set by municipal ordinance no. 12 of 21 April 2026
10:30Holy Mass at the parish church of Villa San Pietro (Don Andrea Manunta)
11:30Departure along the SS 195 towards Sarroch
11:00 – 13:00At Sarroch: welcoming procession with the "Città di Pula" Town Band, the horsemen of Sarroch and Villa San Pietro, the "Scianta" folk group and the "Santa Vittoria" cultural association. Holy Mass. At 13:00 the procession resumes to escort the Saint towards Cagliari
16:00Welcome at Su Loi (Capoterra), arriving from Villa d'Orri
17:00Holy Mass on the parvis of the chapel of Sant'Efisio at Su Loi
18:00Departure towards La Maddalena Spiaggia, accompanied by Maestro Mascia's launeddas players
GiorginoChange of carriage and robes in the Fishermen's Village — traditionally the simulacrum is returned to the gilded carriage and dressed in formal attire for the solemn return. For 2026 there is no carriage: from viale La Plaia the Saint is carried on the confraternity members' shoulders back to Stampace.
19:00Holy Mass at the church of Stampace awaiting the return
23:30Triumphant arrival in Cagliari — Eucharistic blessing
EndOfficial reading of the release of the Vow by the President of the Arciconfraternita. Final greeting: "A atrus annus!"
Practical Information
Admission
FREE
The procession is open to all. No tickets required.
Best Viewing
Via Roma, Cagliari (May 1 departure) or Piazza Sant'Efisio (May 4 return)
How to Get There
Cagliari is 30 min from Cagliari–Elmas Airport (CAG). Direct flights from major Italian and European cities.
