If you choose to spend Easter and Easter Monday in the village of Aggius, in Sardinia, you can live a travel experience in close contact with the local residents, discovering the interesting cultural and naturalistic attractions of this municipality, located in the south-west of Gallura, of 82 square kilometers and about 1600 inhabitants, where the Easter celebrations, dramatized, are still rooted in the ancient traditions. The town, which is part of the Authentic Villages of Italy, stands out for the quality of its tourist offer and hospitality, and has been awarded the Orange Flag by the Italian Touring Club.
The historic center is characterized by granite, with which the walls of the buildings and the pavement of the streets, alleys and small squares were built. There are four churches in the town: the parish church of Santa Vittoria, built in 1536, with the interior in Romanesque-Baroque style, a Latin cross plan and three naves, with the facade which is neoclassical with a tympanum (following a restoration in 1854), the church of the Madonna d’Itria and the oratories of Santa Croce and of the Rosario. As for the museums, there are the Ethnographic one “Oliva Carta Cannas” and the Museum of Banditry. The economy is based on agriculture, sheep farming and handicrafts; in the latter sector the production of carpets and tapestries is highly developed.
To reach Aggius, a convenient travel solution can be represented by the Livorno – Olbia ferries, of two different shipping companies, both operating throughout the year, or by the Civitavecchia – Olbia ferries, and by continuing, once landed, by car or bus along the approximately 52 kilometers of road that separate the small Gallura town from the most important port in Sardinia.
The Holy Week of Aggius
During Holy Week the life of the town is permeated by worship, history and tradition: it is the so-called Chita Santa. From Palm Sunday to Easter, ancient sacred representations of the last days of Jesus are staged, liturgical ceremonies are celebrated and processions are made by the brotherhoods accompanied by chanting songs and choirs.
Holy Wednesday is characterized by the Via Crucis with torchlight procession, while on Holy Thursday the rites of the “sacred triduum” kick off, with the mass in Coena Domini, the washing of the feet and the display of the “sippulchi” (dishes with wheat sprouted in the dark); on Friday the procession takes place with a visit to the tombs, return to the church of Santa Vittoria and deposition of Christ from the Cross (Lu sgraamentu).
Holy Easter
On Easter day, the procession of the two local confraternities takes place, starting from the oratories, accompanied by the musical band, one carrying the simulacrum of the Risen Christ and the other that of the Madonna. In the square of the village the meeting (lu ‘ntoppu) and the execution of the three bows take place, while the “Regina Caeli” is sung in the choir. Afterwards, the sung Solemn Mass is celebrated in the church of Santa Vittoria.
Easter Monday
The town, 514 meters above sea level, is surrounded by woods, vegetable gardens, vineyards and Mediterranean scrub; in the immediate vicinity there is also the small lake of Santa Degna, in a natural area with cork oaks, surrounded by granite hills (the so-called Aggius Monts), where there is no shortage of hiking trails.
In the Piana dei Grandi Sassi plain, also known as Valley of the Moon, the landscape is lunar and there are boulders dating back to the Quaternary shaped by atmospheric agents and the Izzana nuraghe, one of the most interesting in Sardinia. In the countryside you can see the stazzi, farmhouses with stables and sheepfolds.
2023 program (Monday 10 April)
The municipality, the Pro loco and other bodies have organized a program again this year to spend a fun Easter Monday in Aggius. Trekking and guided tours, tastings, handicraft exhibitions, equestrian games, music, lottery and picnic areas enliven Monday in Albis for visitors and residents. Let’s see the details:
- Trekking of the Resegone: excursion difficulty (E), duration 4 hours, appointment at 9:00 in the car parks of the Santa Degna lake.
- Limited number night excursions to Fraili Mount: excursion difficulty (E), appointment at 19:00 in Capizza Park, packed dinner under the stars.
- Urban trekking and guided visits to museums from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 19:00.
- Tastings and refreshment point with traditional gnocchi, grilled meat sandwiches, seadas and drinks.
- Banquet of long pancakes in Via Roma street from 10:00.
- Exhibition in Via Roma street of typical products and handmade creations by artisans.
- Pony rides for children and Saddle Baptism in Piazza Alvinu square from 15.00.
- Traveling music with the Marching Band “Uglienga Street Band” from 15:00.
- Tazenda concert from 16.30.
- Easter lottery at 18:00.
- Live music with the Folkey Monkey Band from 18:30.
- Picnic areas at the Capizza Park and the lake.
