Sassari, three days of celebrations for the Gremio dei Sarti: the intregu rite and the renewed candlestick

Sassari is preparing to celebrate the Festa Maggiore of the Gremio dei Sarti, an event dedicated to the Virgin of Montserrat and held in the church of Sant’Antonio Abate. The celebrations will take place from Saturday, September 12, to Monday, September 14, 2026, combining religious moments, guild tradition and the renewal of one of the symbols associated with the guild’s participation in the Faradda dei Candelieri.

The celebrations program

The opening is scheduled for Saturday, September 12, at 7 p.m., with solemn vespers in the church of Sant’Antonio Abate. The central moment will be on Sunday, September 13, at 10:30 a.m., when Don Davide Oni will preside over the solemn Mass, accompanied by the Su Concordu Banaresu choir.

During the celebration, the intregu rite will take place: the formal handover of the flag marking the change of leadership of the guild. Outgoing obriere Mirco Moracini will hand the banner to the new obriere, Giovanni Andrea Pasca.

The day will continue at 6:45 p.m. with the solemn procession. The statue of the Virgin of Montserrat will pass through the streets of the historic center, accompanied by the city Gremi and the Luigi Canepa Band. The procession will thus represent one of the most eagerly awaited moments of the Festa Maggiore, bringing devotion and the symbols of guild tradition into the heart of the city.

The candlestick after restoration

Among the most significant elements of the procession will also be the candlestick of the Gremio dei Sarti, restored and renewed ahead of the Faradda 2026. The work was carried out by gremiante Nanni Pasca after nine months of study and work.

The project introduces new shades of blue and several gold finishes. The structure also features four medallions dedicated to the Virgin of Montserrat, Blessed Francesco Ziranu, Sant’Omobono and San Gavino. Through these images, the candlestick brings together religious references, the memory of the craft and the history of the guild.

The three-day celebration will conclude on Monday, September 14, at 6 p.m. with a Mass in memory of deceased gremianti. The observance forms part of the broader heritage of rites and events that accompany the Candelieri tradition in Sassari every year. To learn more about the history of the Faradda and its symbols, you can consult the history of the Candelieri tradition.