Nostra Signora di Monserrato Bari Sardo 2026 Programme
From 5 to 8 September 2026 Bari Sardo celebrates Nostra Signora di Monserrato, the town's patron saint, with four days of festivities organised by the Parrocchia N.S. di Monserrato together with the Is Feralis committee, active since 1976: the prayer novena is woven together with concerts, traditional music and the solemn procession on 8 September.
Civic Programme
Saturday 5 September: 10:00 pm «La Corrida della Sardegna», guest Signora Agnese (Piazza Repubblica).
Sunday 6 September: 10:00 pm music with Max Forever – Tribute Band 883, followed by national guest Alien Cut and the Barbie Sound disco (Piazza Repubblica).
Monday 7 September: 10:00 pm music with Cordeddu, Calzia e Lai, a group formed by Luca Lai (vocals), Fabio Calzia (guitar) and Luigi Cordeddu (accordion) (Piazza di Chiesa).
Tuesday 8 September: 10:00 pm traditional music with Brinka (Piazza di Chiesa). During the evening, the lottery prize draw.
Religious Programme
Novena (from 30 August to 7 September): every day at 6:30 pm Mass, during which the prayer novena to the Madonna di Monserrato is recited.
Sunday 6 September: 7:30 am Mass, in addition to the usual 6:30 pm Mass with the novena.
Tuesday 8 September – Solemn Feast: 5:30 pm Mass and Procession with the statue of the Patron Saint on an ox-drawn cart driven by Andrea Sida, accompanied by the Confraternity, the Parish Associations, the launeddas of Alessandro Podda, the N.S. di Monserrato Cultural Association, the Knights' Association and the Is Feralis groups, together with the town band and the folk groups listed below.
- Nurri — «Cossu-Brunetti» Town Band
- Bari Sardo — «Santu Juanne» Folk Group (Proloco di Bari Sardo)
- Bari Sardo — «San Giovanni Battista» Folk Group
- Gairo — «Sant’Elena Imperatrice» Folk Group
- Tertenia — «Santa Sofia» Folk Group
Getting to Bari Sardo
Distances from the main cities
Cagliari
112 km · 1h 54min
Olbia
168 km · 2h 26min
Alghero
193 km · 3h 8min
Event location
Church of Nostra Signora di Monserrato — Bari Sardo
Bari Sardo (NU) · Piazza Chiesa, 1
🚗 By car
From Cagliari: SS125 Orientale Sarda heading north to Bari Sardo (about 112 km). From Olbia and northern Sardinia: SS131 to Nuoro, then SS389 and SS125 towards the Ogliastra coast (about 168 km). From Sassari and Alghero: SS131 to Nuoro, then SS389 and SS125 towards Bari Sardo. The historic centre around Piazza di Chiesa is walkable, with parking available in the surrounding streets.
🚌 Bus
ARST bus lines connect Bari Sardo to Tortolì, Lanusei and Nuoro; check the ARST website for timetables during the festival days.
✈️ Nearest airport Cagliari-Elmas Airport (~112 km). The Tortolì-Arbatax airstrip, about 10 km away, is closer but is not currently operating commercial flights.
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History and Traditions
The parish church of Nostra Signora di Monserrato stands at the heart of the historic centre of Bari Sardo, in Ogliastra, and is considered one of the most imposing on the island: construction began in the 17th century to replace an older, deteriorating building, and was completed in 1720, while the sacristy dates to 1749 and the 35-metre bell tower, built in Piedmontese Baroque style to a design by architect Giuseppe Viana, was finished around 1790. The interior, laid out as a Latin cross with a single nave and three chapels on each side, houses a rich array of polychrome marble: the presbytery, completed in 1777 on the model of Cagliari's cathedral, is bordered by a marble balustrade supported by four lions, while the high altar, made in 1760 by Michele Spazzi, displays inlaid marbles brought from Naples.
The devotion to Nostra Signora di Monserrato, patron saint of Bari Sardo since 8 September, echoes the Catalan Marian cult tied to the sanctuary of Montserrat, which spread through Sardinia during the Aragonese and Spanish rule that for centuries also governed the Ogliastra territory, then part of the county of Quirra. The name of the town, on the other hand, has far older origins: «Barì» derives from a proto-Sardinian place name related to other island toponyms such as Barumini and Barrali, while «Sardo» was added in 1862 to distinguish the municipality from the Apulian city of the same name.
Around the patronal feast, a lasting partnership has grown over the years between the Parish and the Is Feralis committee, active since 1976, which curates the civic programme of the festival with concerts and shows in Piazza Repubblica and Piazza di Chiesa. The procession on 8 September, with the statue carried on an ox-drawn cart and accompanied by the launeddas, the town band and folk groups from neighbouring villages, remains the most heartfelt moment, a testament to a community identity rooted as much in faith as in textile craftsmanship and local culinary traditions, from culurgiones to pistoccu.
Frequently Asked Questions about Nostra Signora di Monserrato
Is admission to the Nostra Signora di Monserrato festival free?
Yes, admission to all religious celebrations and to the musical shows in Piazza Repubblica and Piazza di Chiesa is free for everyone.
What is "Is Feralis"?
Is Feralis is the committee that has organised the civic programme of Bari Sardo's festival since 1976, curating the concerts, shows and lottery that accompany the religious celebrations in honour of the Patron Saint.
When does the procession with the statue of Nostra Signora di Monserrato take place?
The procession takes place on Tuesday 8 September at 5:30 pm, after Mass: the statue of the Patron Saint is carried on an ox-drawn cart, accompanied by the Confraternity, the folk groups and the local associations through the streets of Bari Sardo.
Where can visitors park and eat during the festival?
The historic centre of Bari Sardo, around Piazza di Chiesa and Piazza Repubblica, becomes pedestrian-only during the evening events: visitors should park in the surrounding streets and walk to the squares, where bars and food stalls are open throughout the festival.