Corsa degli Scalzi: The Heart of the San Salvatore Festival in Cabras
From August 28 to September 7, the San Salvatore festival in Cabras transforms the tiny village of San Salvatore into the stage for one of Sardinia’s most striking and least-known religious traditions, crowned by the extraordinary Corsa degli Scalzi (“Race of the Barefoot”). While the crowds head for Costa Smeralda’s beach clubs, this is hidden Sardinia at its most authentic — nine days of processions, candlelit rosaries, and centuries-old devotion in a whitewashed pilgrim village that comes alive only once a year.
The heart of the festival is the barefoot run itself: hundreds of local men known as “Is Curridoris” carry the statue of the Holy Savior at a sprint between Cabras’ Church of Santa Maria Assunta and the village of San Salvatore — first on September 5th, then again in a dramatic return on September 6th.
Staying at Sa Pintadera, just minutes from Cabras, puts you close enough to witness it all — the processions, the folk music, the raw energy of a tradition tourism hasn’t touched yet.
If you’re planning your trip around this San Salvatore festival in Cabras, here’s the full program:
Every day from August 28 to September 5, the village of San Salvatore holds daily religious rites: the Rosary at 5:00 PM, Holy Mass at 5:30 PM, and the Way of the Cross and Novena at 6:00 PM.
On Friday, August 28, the “Santu Srabadoeddu” procession departs from the Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Cabras at 6:30 AM: the women set off, carrying the small statue “Su Santigheddu” to San Salvatore, officially opening the festivities. Arrival at the sanctuary and Holy Mass follow at 9:00 AM.
On Thursday, September 3, the Rosary is held at 5:00 PM, followed by Holy Mass in the underground chapel (“Ipogeo”) at 5:30 PM, the Way of the Cross at 6:00 PM, and the Eucharistic procession to the mount at 6:45 PM, with the Novena upon return.
The heart of the festival falls on Saturday, September 5: Bishop Roberto Carboni celebrates Holy Mass in Cabras at 6:00 AM. At 6:45 AM, the statue of San Salvatore departs from the Pieve di Santa Maria Assunta, before the famous Corsa degli Scalzi begins at 7:30 AM — hundreds of “Is Curridoris” carry the statue at a run from Via Tharros to the village of San Salvatore, arriving around 8:30 AM.
On Sunday, September 6, a festive procession winds through the village streets at 10:30 AM, accompanied by the “Launeddas del Sinis” association and accordionists Giuseppe Pintus and Piero Manca. In the evening, at 6:00 PM, the statue returns to Cabras in a second Corsa degli Scalzi, received with celebration at 7:00 PM.
The festivities close on Monday, September 7: at 6:30 AM, the “Santu Srabadoeddu” procession takes place once more, as the women carry Su Santigheddu back to Cabras, arriving to a blessing at 9:00 AM.
Planning your San Salvatore festival trip to Cabras? Stay at Sa Pintadera, just minutes from the action.
San Salvatore Festival Cabras: The Barefoot Race You Won’t Find in Guidebooks
Corsa degli Scalzi: The Heart of the San Salvatore Festival in Cabras
From August 28 to September 7, the San Salvatore festival in Cabras transforms the tiny village of San Salvatore into the stage for one of Sardinia’s most striking and least-known religious traditions, crowned by the extraordinary Corsa degli Scalzi (“Race of the Barefoot”). While the crowds head for Costa Smeralda’s beach clubs, this is hidden Sardinia at its most authentic — nine days of processions, candlelit rosaries, and centuries-old devotion in a whitewashed pilgrim village that comes alive only once a year.
The heart of the festival is the barefoot run itself: hundreds of local men known as “Is Curridoris” carry the statue of the Holy Savior at a sprint between Cabras’ Church of Santa Maria Assunta and the village of San Salvatore — first on September 5th, then again in a dramatic return on September 6th.
Staying at Sa Pintadera, just minutes from Cabras, puts you close enough to witness it all — the processions, the folk music, the raw energy of a tradition tourism hasn’t touched yet.
If you’re planning your trip around this San Salvatore festival in Cabras, here’s the full program:
Every day from August 28 to September 5, the village of San Salvatore holds daily religious rites: the Rosary at 5:00 PM, Holy Mass at 5:30 PM, and the Way of the Cross and Novena at 6:00 PM.
On Friday, August 28, the “Santu Srabadoeddu” procession departs from the Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Cabras at 6:30 AM: the women set off, carrying the small statue “Su Santigheddu” to San Salvatore, officially opening the festivities. Arrival at the sanctuary and Holy Mass follow at 9:00 AM.
On Thursday, September 3, the Rosary is held at 5:00 PM, followed by Holy Mass in the underground chapel (“Ipogeo”) at 5:30 PM, the Way of the Cross at 6:00 PM, and the Eucharistic procession to the mount at 6:45 PM, with the Novena upon return.
The heart of the festival falls on Saturday, September 5: Bishop Roberto Carboni celebrates Holy Mass in Cabras at 6:00 AM. At 6:45 AM, the statue of San Salvatore departs from the Pieve di Santa Maria Assunta, before the famous Corsa degli Scalzi begins at 7:30 AM — hundreds of “Is Curridoris” carry the statue at a run from Via Tharros to the village of San Salvatore, arriving around 8:30 AM.
On Sunday, September 6, a festive procession winds through the village streets at 10:30 AM, accompanied by the “Launeddas del Sinis” association and accordionists Giuseppe Pintus and Piero Manca. In the evening, at 6:00 PM, the statue returns to Cabras in a second Corsa degli Scalzi, received with celebration at 7:00 PM.
The festivities close on Monday, September 7: at 6:30 AM, the “Santu Srabadoeddu” procession takes place once more, as the women carry Su Santigheddu back to Cabras, arriving to a blessing at 9:00 AM.
Planning your San Salvatore festival trip to Cabras? Stay at Sa Pintadera, just minutes from the action.
Where to stay in Cabras
Book your room at Sa Pintadera
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