The terms Sartiglia comes from Spanish “Sortilla”, which itself comes from the Latin “Sorticula” which means ring but also “Sors”, luck. The Sartiglia consists of horse riders trying to target a star, while at the same galloping against obstacles.
The Sartiglia has ancient origins. In the 11th century in Europe, many military games where used to help train the militia. These games, with the passing of time, went through several changes until the 15th and 16th century, when horse races lost their military significance and were transformed into public entertainment.
Sovereigns, viceroys, feudal lords and workers guilds organized these shows in occasion of nominations of new kings or bishops, on the birth of heirs to a throne or to particular holidays in the liturgical calendar, involving the nobles and at the same time offering entertainment to the general population.
The oldest testimonials of the Sartiglia are found in a register of council found in the Historical Archives of the town. The registrar is dated 1547-1548 and on the inside it talks of a “Sortilla” organized in honor of the Emperor Charles the Fifth, probably in 1546. From later documents we have records of a purchase on behalf of civil authorities of stocks of wood to use during the race from the workshop of a master woodsman. This testimony helps us understand that most likely during Spanish reign, the race was organized by the local municipality and then assigned to workers guilds.