Carnival in Sardinia is a very heartfelt celebration: on the island they don’t just celebrate the so-called “Carrasegare” (in dialect) exclusively on the occasion of Shrove Tuesday, but they do it for several days and also with great intensity and vigor. Each territory has its own traditions and interprets carnival celebrations in a peculiar way.
The Carnival of Tempio Pausania, in Sardinian “Carrasciali Timpiesu”, is historic, even if over time it has undergone processes of innovation, and it is characterized by parades and masked courses, animated by large allegorical papier-mâché floats that travel along a circuit among the crowd.
The protagonist, a puppet formerly called Jolgliu Puntogliu, has become King George but the meaning of the straw puppet has not changed: it in fact embodies power, which is first raised to the throne and acclaimed for six days, and then, on Shrove Tuesday, tried and burned at the stake.
There are three parades: the opening one on Shrove Thursday (King George enters the city), the intermediate one on Sunday (the king meets the commoner Mannena) and the closing one on Shrove Tuesday (burning).
Carrasciali Timpiesu 2024
The historic Carnival of Tempio Pausania, in the province of Sassari in Sardinia, has ancient cultural roots and, despite the changes that have inevitably occurred in the celebration over time, it has kept some aspects intact.
In addition to the parades, masked courses and allegorical papier-mâché floats, we find the ritual of burning the straw puppet of King George, which before being burned is praised by the cheering people for several days. These aspects have remained intact.
For six days, from Thursday 8 February to Tuesday 13 February 2024, the city of Tempio Pausania, in northern Sardinia, is transformed into a world of magic, music and dance. This year’s allegorical theme is “Silla cantani, Silla baddani e… Villi sunemu“, or, in dialect form, “While the others sing and dance, we take matters into our own hands and… give them a hard time”.
Days full of colours, costumes, parades with music, dances and masks are planned. Let’s see the details below (further information is available at the web address visit-tempio.it/carnevale-di-tempio-programma-2024/).
Saturday 3 February
in Piazza XXV Aprile at 5pm.
Band gathering: meeting of musical bands and inauguration of the historical photographic exhibition of the Carnival, parade of the bands through the streets of the center and visit to the hangars of the allegorical floats up to Piazza Gallura.
Sunday 4 February
in the historic center at 10.30 am:
traveling concert of the bands through the streets of the historic center with performance on stage in Piazza XXV Aprile.
In Piazza XXV Aprile at 5.00 pm:
big parade of all bands up to Piazza Gallura.
Thursday 8 February
downtown.
From 11.30am, allegorical floats will be displayed to the public along the route.
From 3.00 pm 1st Parade: His Majesty King George in his current allegorical guise presents himself to the City and its guests accompanied by the great Show of Allegorical Floats and Extemporaneous Competition Groups.
Saturday 10 February
in Via Angioy at 3.30 pm.
Soapbox Race: daring, fun and ecological descent of the craziest and most original four-wheeled handcrafted creations.
Sunday 11 February
downtown.
From 11.30am, allegorical floats will be displayed to the public along the route.
From 3.00 pm 2nd Parade: wedding between the bizarre and changeable Sovereign and the commoner Mannena accompanied by the King’s Court in the new allegorical-musical declination and animated by the Show of Allegorical Floats and Extemporaneous Competition Groups.
Monday 12 February
in the historic center at 3:00 pm.
Exciting Children’s Parade with entertainment and games.
Tuesday 13 February
downtown.
From 11.30am, allegorical floats will be displayed to the public along the route.
From 3.00 pm 3rd Parade: Great Show of Allegorical Floats and Extemporaneous Competition Groups. Awarding of winners and losers. Trial, Testament and Condemnation at the Burning of the King. Grand fireworks finale.
Other attractions of Tempio Pausania
Once you are in Tempio, you should not miss the 13th century Cathedral of San Pietro Apostolo and Piazza Faber, named after Fabrizio de Andrè, with an installation designed in collaboration with Renzo Piano.
Walking through the center you can’t help but notice the characteristic granite stone paving and the many restaurants where you can taste typical dishes such as suppa cuata or wines such as Vermentino, Karana and Moscato.
It is also worth visiting the park with hydropinic establishment of the Fonti di Rinagghju, in the upper part of the city.
How to reach Tempio Pausania from the Italian peninsula in February
Whether you want to reach Tempio Pausania, the geographical capital of Gallura, by plane or by ship, starting from the Italian peninsula, you must go to Olbia, from where you can continue towards your destination by car (passing through the Strada Provinciale 38 and the Strada Statale 127 Settentrionale Sarda you need to drive for about 45 kilometres), or by bus (with line 602 for an hour and twenty minutes).
As for ferries, in February, in the low season, those on the Livorno – Olbia route are available, for those starting their journey from the North, and those on the Civitavecchia – Olbia route, for those starting their itinerary from the Center or the South of the peninsula. In the first case, departing from the Tuscan port, the duration of the journey varies between seven hours and thirty minutes and ten hours; in the second, departing from the Lazio port, between five and a half and eight hours. You can travel with or without a vehicle in tow, both during the day and at night, on (spartan and economical) deck passage, in an armchair or in a very comfortable cabin.
