Feast of Saint Teresa of Ávila 2026: what to expect
On 14, 15 and 17 October 2026 Tertenia honours Saint Teresa of Ávila, the great Spanish mystic whose feast day is 15 October. The festival, organised by the 2026 Festival Committee of the 1986 and 2003 'leve' together with the youth Pro Loco, is divided between two days of religious celebrations and a Saturday of civic festivities. On Wednesday 14, after Holy Mass at 17:30 in the church of Santa Teresa, the statue of the saint, wearing the Carmelite habit and holding a quill and book, is carried in procession to the parish church. On Thursday 15, the saint's liturgical feast, the 18:00 Mass is preached by the newly ordained deacon Don Francesco Romano; it is followed by an evocative torchlight procession that accompanies the statue back to its church, ending with a blessing and small refreshments in the square offered by the committee. On Saturday 17 the whole village joins in: in the afternoon there are bouncy castles, face painting, a lucky dip and popcorn for children, from 19:00 a stall serving sandwiches and drinks, at 21:30 an evening of music with the ethnic band Poesias and, at midnight, a DJ set. A chance to experience at first hand the community life of a village in southern Ogliastra in autumn, when festivals once again belong above all to the people who live there.
Programme Feast of Saint Teresa of Ávila 2026
The official programme, organised by the 2026 Festival Committee (1986–2003 leve) with the youth Pro Loco of Tertenia, includes the religious celebrations on Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 October and the civic festivities on Saturday 17 October.
Wednesday 14 October
At 17:30 Holy Mass is celebrated in the church of Santa Teresa. Afterwards, the statue of the saint is carried in procession to the parish church.
Thursday 15 October
At 18:00 Holy Mass in the parish church, preached by the newly ordained deacon Don Francesco Romano. It is followed by the torchlight procession that accompanies the statue back to the church of Santa Teresa, ending with a blessing and small refreshments in the square offered by the committee.
Saturday 17 October — Civic festivities
From 17:00 to 19:00 children's games with bouncy castles, face painting and a lucky dip, with popcorn offered by the youth Pro Loco. From 19:00 a stall serves sandwiches and drinks.
At 21:30 an evening of music with the ethnic band "Poesias". To close the festival, at midnight, a DJ set.
How to reach Tertenia
Distances from main cities
Cagliari
95 km · 1 h 30 min
Olbia
195 km · 2 h 45 min
Alghero
220 km · 3 h 30 min
Event venue
Church of Santa Teresa d'Avila and parish church — Tertenia
08047 Tertenia (NU) · Centro storico
🚗 By car
From Cagliari take the SS554 and then the new SS125 Orientale Sarda towards Tortolì, crossing the Sarrabus near Muravera and Villaputzu as far as the Tertenia exit, in about an hour and a half. From Olbia and Nuoro head south along the SS125 and the SS389 to Tortolì, then continue south on the SS125; from Sassari and Alghero it is best to reach Nuoro via the SS131 and SS131 DCN and follow the same route. In the village you can park in the streets around the centre, a short walk from the churches.
🚌 Train and bus
Tertenia has no railway station: ARST buses connect it with Cagliari, Tortolì and Lanusei. Evening services are few, especially in autumn: check timetables on the ARST website, particularly for the return trip after Saturday evening.
✈️ Nearest airport
Cagliari-Elmas Airport (approx. 100 km), about 1 hour 30 minutes' drive from Tertenia along the SS554 and SS125. Alternatively, Tortolì-Arbatax airport (approx. 35 km) has limited, seasonal connections.
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Frequently asked questions
When does the 2026 Feast of Saint Teresa of Ávila in Tertenia take place?
The festival takes place on Wednesday 14, Thursday 15 and Saturday 17 October 2026: the first two days are devoted to the religious celebrations, Saturday to the civic festivities.
Where are the celebrations held?
Between the church of Santa Teresa and the parish church of Tertenia: the procession on 14 October takes the statue to the parish church, and the torchlight procession on 15 October brings it back to its own church.
Is admission free?
Yes, all events are free and open to the public. Thursday's refreshments and Saturday's popcorn for children are offered by the organisers; the sandwich and drinks stall is paid.
What should not be missed during the festival?
The torchlight procession on Thursday 15 October, after the 18:00 Mass, which takes the statue back to the church of Santa Teresa, and the music evening on Saturday 17 at 21:30 with the ethnic band Poesias.
Are there activities for children?
Yes, on Saturday 17 October from 17:00 to 19:00 there are bouncy castles, face painting, a lucky dip and popcorn offered by the youth Pro Loco.
How do I get to Tertenia?
By car from Cagliari in about an hour and a half along the SS554 and the SS125 Orientale Sarda. The nearest airport with regular flights is Cagliari-Elmas, about 100 km away; ARST buses connect Tertenia with Cagliari, Tortolì and Lanusei.
History and traditions of the Feast of Saint Teresa of Ávila
Saint Teresa of Ávila (1515–1582) is one of the best-loved figures of Catholic spirituality: a Spanish mystic and writer, she reformed the Carmelite order and founded the Discalced Carmelites. Canonised in 1622, in 1970 she became the first woman to be proclaimed a Doctor of the Church. Her feast day is 15 October, the date around which the Tertenia festival also revolves.
Tertenia has a church dedicated to the saint, from which her statue sets out and to which it returns during the festival. The statue follows traditional iconography, showing her in the Carmelite habit with a quill and an open book, symbols of her work as a writer and teacher of the spiritual life.
The rite unfolds as an outward and return journey: on the first day the statue is carried in procession from the church of Santa Teresa to the parish church, and on the second it returns to its own church in an evening torchlight procession, followed by a blessing and small refreshments offered to everyone.
Like many festivals in Ogliastra, this one is organised by the committee of the 'leve', young people born in the same year: in 2026 the classes of 1986 and 2003, who look after both the religious celebrations and Saturday's civic festivities, with games for children, ethnic music and dancing late into the night.