In Villasalto the event “Su Fogaroni” in January 2023
Bonfire and tasting of typical products on 16 and 21 January 2023, procession and Holy Mass on 17 and 20: the civil and religious celebrations in honor of Sant’Antonio and San Sebastiano are about to start again this year in Villasalto, in Sardinian Biddesatu, a municipality of 1250 inhabitants in the province of South Sardinia, in the sub-region of Gerrei.
On the occasion of the anniversary of Sant’Antonio Abate, patron saint of butchers and salami makers, farmers and breeders and protector of domestic animals, not only the religious celebration is carried out: this is preceded, on the eve, in many Italian and European regions, from the rite of lighting bonfires. In the south this tradition is repeated in some places also on the day following the anniversary of San Sebastiano, in Italy patron of the municipal police and protector from all contagious diseases, celebrated four days after Sant’Antonio.
One of the places where the celebrations with lighting of the fires are held for both saints is the town of Villasalto in south-eastern Sardinia, where the bonfires and food and wine tastings precede or follow the religious celebrations of the feast day of the two saints. Su Fogaroni, as the event is called in Sardinian dialect, are lit both on 16 and 21 January.
Civil and religious program
Let’s see the civil and religious program of the event, organized by the Parish of San Michele Arcangelo, the Pro loco and the Municipality for 2023.
Sant’Antonio
- Monday 16 January: 7.00 pm Lighting of the fire and 8.00 pm Tasting of typical products (dried sausage, bread with cream cheese, tangerines, chestnuts, Sardinian sweets, wine).
- Tuesday 17 January: 5.00 pm Procession and 5.30 pm Holy Mass in the parish.
San Sebastian
- Friday 20 January: 5.00 pm Procession and 5.30 pm Holy Mass in the parish.
- Saturday 21 January: 7.00 pm Lighting of the fire and 8.00 pm Tasting of typical products (broad beans with pork rinds, grilled sausage, cheese, tangerines, Sardinian sweets, wine).
The parish church of San Michele Arcangelo, located in the historic center characterized by its stone paving, in the lower and oldest area of the town, dates back to the 17th century; it is in neoclassical style, with a single nave and a barrel vault: internally it has paintings and wooden statues from the seventeenth century and a pipe organ from the eighteenth century.
How to reach Villasalto
To reach Villasalto from the Italian peninsula you can take a ship to Cagliari, with or without a vehicle, and then continue, once landed, driving or by bus.
The Civitavecchia – Cagliari ferries depart three times a week and take 15 hours (two hours less on Thursdays): at the link it is possible to book deck seats, armchairs or cabins, with visualization of the departure days, times and duration of the crossing and the total amount of the trip. On-board services include an à la carte restaurant, a self-service lounge, cafeterias and a shop selling various items.
Even the departures of the Naples – Cagliari ferries are made three times a week; the duration of the journey is 15 hours and the dates and times of the races and the online ticket prices are also visible at the link. On board, as well as armchairs, cabins and suites, there are recreational areas for both children and adults, self-service, bar, restaurant and shop.
From Cagliari to Villasalto there are approximately 62 kilometers of distance, to be covered by car (about an hour driving), if you have also embarked the vehicle or if you rent one on the island, via the road SS Gerrei 387, or in bus, taking line number 108 from the ARST bus station, which takes about two and a half hours to reach its destination.
The territory
The territory, in which the Flumendosa river and watercourses flow, is very fertile, bordered by Mount Genis and Mount Lora; the name of Villasalto derives from the Latin saltus, or countryside. Fruit, vegetables, legumes and cereals are grown and, in addition to agriculture, sheep farming also characterizes the local economy.
Villasalto is part of area 5 of the historical and environmental geo-mining park of Sardinia, recognized by UNESCO, and it has sites of historical-mining interest as in the 19th century, not far from the village, there were the minerallurgical plants of the antimony mine of Su Suergiu. The former mine is currently a Mining Archaeological Museum, open in January on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 15:00 to 18:00 and also in the morning on weekends. The complex is made up of the mining site in an Art Nouveau building, the foundry and the workshops. A Municipal Historical Archive and a Mining Archive are also dedicated to Su Suergiu.
The spontaneous flora, made up of holm oaks, olive trees, mastic trees, strawberry trees, asparagus, mushrooms, is luxuriant. The village, 500 meters above sea level, is surrounded by nature. Mount Genis, 979 meters high, is part of the Sette Fratelli regional park and is characterized by water sources and panoramic views, as well as by a large Nuragic construction present in the woods (Sa dom’e sa nì) and by the figures created in the rock by atmospheric agents. In the Flumendosa valley there is the nuraghe called Corrolia, while the Serra Madau one is located near watercourses. In the limestone promontories of Mount Lora you can see a rock sphinx, which has become a tourist attraction. On Mount Arrubiu is the Roman-era settlement of Cea, with a residential area and funerary area. Wildlife consists of deer, moufflons, wild boars, foxes, rabbits, martens, wild cats, golden eagles, falcons and sparrowhawks. In the Sa Grutta Manna cave lives the imperial geotriton of Sarrabus, a small and vulnerable amphibian.
