The food and wine gathering of Sardinian village festivals is held every year on the first Sunday of October, in San Gemiliano, in Sestu, Cagliari, under the name of Pro Loco Festival. This traveling event is based both on tastings of typical dishes prepared by each Pro Loco of the Region/Province, and on conferences, shows, competitions, exhibitions and the best each country can offer.
The food and wine and cultural festival takes place in the setting of the Church of San Gemiliano. The so-called – in Sardinian dialect – Cresia de Santu Millanu, built in the second half of the 13th century in Romanesque style, gave its name to the hamlet of the municipality of Sestu (metropolitan city of Cagliari) located in the countryside north of the town centre. The walls surrounding the country church make it the perfect location to host stands, musical performances and dances.
The territory of Sestu, located in the Campidano plain, is about 10 kilometers from the Sardinian capital. To get to the island from the mainland, the Civitavecchia – Cagliari ferries should be considered, which operate the route three times a week with departure in the evening, completing it in 13 or 15 hours; and the Naples – Cagliari ferries, whose departures are three times a week, with a crossing duration of 10 hours at night. After disembarking you can continue by car or by ARST bus line 110.
Pro Loco Festival in Sardinia: 17th Food and Wine Gathering (2023)
The Pro Loco Festival – 17th regional food and wine gathering of the village festivals takes place on Saturday 30 September and Sunday 1 October 2023. Organized by the Pro Loco Sestu Association, in collaboration with the San Giorgio Martire Parish and the San Gemiliano Volunteer Friends Association , with the patronage of the Municipality of Sestu and the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, the event includes the participation of various Pro Locos of Sardinia, with their local specialties, as well as volunteers from the Universal Civil Service.
There are spaces dedicated to local culture and ancient food and wine traditions, with tastings of typical regional culinary specialties and wines organized by the Italian Sommelier Sardinia Foundation, enlivened by folkloristic shows, music and dancing.
2023 program of the food and wine gathering of village festivals
Saturday 30 September
- from 3.00 pm to 7.00 pm preparation of the tastings by the operators;
- at 6.30 pm inauguration of the exhibition with the regional authorities, the Metropolitan City of Cagliari and the Municipality of Sestu;
- 8.00 pm: “Sa Bovida” – assisted wine tasting organized by the Italian Sommelier Sardinia Foundation;
- from 7.00 pm to midnight distribution of dishes prepared by volunteers and members of the Pro Locos;
- from 9.00 pm to midnight traditional Sardinian dances with Walter Mameli.
Sunday 1 October
- from 3.00 pm to 7.00 pm preparation of the tastings by the operators and from 7.00 pm to 11.00 pm distribution of the dishes;
- 5.30 pm Holy Mass celebrated by the parish priest Monsignor Onofrio Serra of the Parish of San Giorgio;
- 8.00 pm “Sa bovida” – assisted wine tasting organized by the Italian Sommelier Sardinia Foundation;
- from 7.00 pm to midnight distribution of dishes prepared by volunteers and members of the Pro Locos;
- from 9.00 pm to midnight traditional Sardinian dances with Walter Mameli.
Tastings
- Pro Loco Cinisi: Sicilian panelle;
- Pro Loco Dolianova: michitus nieddus;
- Pro Loco Donori: stewed sheep (ghisadu) (Saturday), quail with myrtle (griva) (Sunday);
- Pro Loco Furtei: chickpeas and pig’s feet (Saturday only),
- Da Pepperson: bar point (draft beer, soft drinks, water, coffee);
- Pro Loco Samatzai: fregula with sausage, capers, onion and olives;
- Pro Loco Sardara: catalufas tzacarramanu;
- Pro Loco Segariu: saffron fregula in sauce with sausage and pecorino cheese;
- Pro Loco Sestu: gnocchi with wild boar sauce, sheep’s coat, gnocchi with sheep and pecorino broth, onion rings at km0, traditional Sesto bread, seadas, culurgiones and panadine with fried vegetables, roasted chestnuts, seafood carbonara, penne with Portoscusese tuna, tuna with aromatic herbs;
- Pro Loco Siamanna: ravioli with sauce;
- Pro Loco Soleminis: pork in beer;
- Pro Loco Suelli: tripe with sauce (Saturday), stewed mutton legs with sauce (Sunday);
- Pro Loco Uri: artichoke and purpuzza ravioli, porchetta, typical dessert;
- Pro Loco Ussana: fried raviolini, prickly pears,
- Pro Loco Uta: fregula alla boscaiola (sausage and porcini mushrooms);
- Pro Loco Settimo San Pietro: fried foods;
- Hotel Azuni: indorau bread, homemade tagliatella with shelled chicken and pecorino petals (Saturday), soft crunchy cloud with ricotta, creamed risotto with yellow pumpkin and toasted sausage (Sunday).
Furthermore, the I Nuraghi Folk Group presents an exhibition of traditional local daily clothes, the Is Mustayonis e S’Orku Foresu Association presents traditional local masks, further illustrated through video projections and photographic exhibitions, and the Giuseppe Verdi Music Band displays instruments musicals, shows video projections and offers free trial lessons, ending, at 7.00 pm, with a live performance.
