Sant'Antonio di Santadi between pilgrimage and wetland

Sant'Antonio di Santadi combines religious traditions with the landscape at the southernmost end of the Gulf of Oristano. For your travel planning, the Festa di Sant'Antonio di Padova, the Marceddì Lagoon and routes towards the coast are therefore particularly important.

Pilgrimage and local festival tradition

The Chiesa di Sant'Antonio da Padova di Santadi is the destination of the annual pilgrimage in June, which is linked to the traditional local festival dedicated to Sant'Antonio. The procession of the Festa di Sant'Antonio di Padova has its roots in the agricultural work of the 17th century. The statue is carried from Arbus to the parish church of Sant'Antonio da Padova in Sant'Antonio di Santadi; a few days later, it makes the journey back in the opposite direction.

The procession includes hundreds of worshippers, around 30 traditional “Tracas” and an ox-drawn cart carrying the saint. As the statue passes through, the procession creates a colourful and fragrant carpet of flower petals known as “Sa Ramadura”.

Wetland, lagoon and birdlife

Sant'Antonio di Santadi is located in a wetland with flora and fauna that differ noticeably from those of the surrounding area. Grey herons and pink flamingos can be observed there. The Marceddì Lagoon extends across the municipalities of Arbus, Terralba and Guspini in western Sardinia, at the southernmost part of the Gulf of Oristano.

A bridge connects Sant'Antonio di Santadi with Marceddì, a district of Terralba in the Province of Oristano. Access to the beach at Torre dei Corsari is via the SS 126 and then the SP 65 through Sant'Antonio di Santadi. From there, it is another 4 kilometres towards Torre dei Corsari.

Dates and practical orientation

For the celebrations of Sant’Antonio di Padova from 13 June to 16 June 2026, the municipality of Arbus has published information on routes, time windows and traffic. In summer 2026, Sant'Antonio di Santadi will also be one of the venues for cultural and sporting events, concerts, performances, festivals and local traditional evenings.

The municipal shuttle timetable lists a stop in Sant'Antonio di Santadi at Via Mare Mediterraneo 25, with departures at 09:06 and 16:06. “Vigne e Cultura … di corsa” includes a 4-kilometre race for women and a 6-kilometre race for men. The route runs between crystal-clear sea and the Marceddì Lagoon.

Choose accommodation to suit your travel plans

When choosing accommodation in Sant'Antonio di Santadi, you can combine different priorities: the pilgrimage and its long-standing festival tradition, observing wetland birds, and access to the lagoon and the beach at Torre dei Corsari. The different route lengths and the local shuttle stop provide additional points of reference for your personal planning.

Discover more destinations

You can also consider Sanluri, Torre Dei Corsari, Barumini, Pauli Arbarei, Villacidro, Furtei, Collinas and Guspini as part of your wider Sardinia travel plans.

To the main travel overview: Medio Campidano.