A toast to the city, its history and its future. Late on the morning of Thursday, 13 August, Sassari Mayor Giuseppe Mascia welcomed his predecessors to Palazzo Ducale for their traditional annual gathering.
The meeting has become a fixture in the calendar as the city prepares for the Faradda di li Candareri on 14 August.
Five former mayors gather at Palazzo Ducale
Five former mayors accepted the invitation: Giacomo Spissu, Franco Borghetto, Anna Sanna, Gianfranco Ganau and Nanni Campus.
Fausto Fadda and Nicola Sanna were unable to attend.
The gathering provided an opportunity to exchange thoughts and reflections on the Sassari of yesterday, today and tomorrow, bringing together around the same table former city leaders who governed Sassari during very different periods of its recent history.
The traditional “a zent’anni” toast
The gathering concluded with a toast and the customary wish of “a zent'anni”, an expression deeply rooted in the tradition of the Candelieri.
The 13 August meeting is intended as a symbol of institutional continuity: regardless of the different political eras they represent, those who have served as mayor return to Palazzo Ducale on the eve of the city's most important celebration.
It is an opportunity to reflect on past experiences in local government, while also discussing how Sassari has changed and what lies ahead for the city.
Sassari ready for the Festha Manna
The toast comes just hours before the most eagerly awaited event of the year.
On Friday, 14 August, the day will begin with the dressing of the thirteen Candelieri, open to the public from 10:00 am to 1:30 pm.
In the afternoon, the Gremi will gather in Piazza Castello from 5:00 pm, with the Faradda scheduled to begin at 6:00 pm.
The thirteen Candelieri will make their way along Corso Vittorio Emanuele and Corso Vico before reaching Santa Maria di Betlem for the fulfilment of the Vow.
Before the drums, dancing and crowds take over the streets, however, a much more intimate ritual took place inside Palazzo Ducale.
A toast between those who govern Sassari today and those who governed it before them. And, of course, a zent'anni.