In September, the focus shifts inlands, where the first stages of the Cortes Apertas (“open backyards”) begin, an autumn festival celebrating crafts, culture, traditions, gastronomy and folk art in the unique setting of the villages in the Barbagia region.
The first weekend in September belongs to the Corsa degli Scalzi festival, a religious and civil race in honour of the saint, San Salvatore. The race is one of the heartiest in Oristano and mid-west Sardinia, and takes place barefoot on a route of about 7 kilometres, separating the town of Cabras from the village of San Salvatore di Sinis, with its local 17th-century country church dedicated to the Holy Saviour. The origins of the celebration date back to 1619 AD, when locals made a long and fast run to protect the statue of the Saviour from the invasion of the Moors, who had plagued the area for a long time. According to the legend, instead of shoes, “barefoot” runners used branches tied to their feet, to kick up as much dust as possible to appear more numerous. Their ruse worked perfectly. The Saracens, frightened by the idea of a large army, fled and the village with the statue of the Saviour was thus safe. Since then this ritual renewing the promise given to the saint is repeated every year as a memorial.
Temperatures in September stay below 30 degrees, the sea is warm and the number of tourists decreases with the slow end of the summer season. The conditions are ideal both for hiking and swimming.