Official site of tourism Comune Carloforte

Every year for centuries, on June 29th, the people of Carloforte celebrate their patron saint San Pietro. This is a very picturesque religious holiday with historical roots in ancient times when, according to legend, San Pietro escaped from a violent storm at sea and landed on this island which was then given his name.

Among the particularly evocative events related to this three day celebration, is a procession through the streets of the old town: this procession makes its way through the crowd, the Saint’s sacred statue carried by local fishermen, followed by large wooden crucifixes with festive decorations from the town of Pegli in Liguria, the ancestral home of the Carlofortinian people.

From the Church of San Pietro, the procession continues to the dock of Mamma Mahon, then continues by boat into the sea, as the setting sun paints the sea red.

In the old days, the Saint was placed on a "bastarda", a rowboat used in the Tonnara, and then carried out to open sea. Today all the boats have modern engines, but the charm of this ancient devotion remains unaltered.

The procession of boats glides on the waters of the harbor while the ferry boats, decorated for the occasion, sound their horns in honor of the patron saint until the fireworks light up the sky, closing the celebration.

Link to Article - THE FESTIVAL OF SAN PIETRO

Go Back

GIRIN BEACH
Suitable for families with children
The Girin beach recalls the white sandy beaches and the finest tropical atolls of the Pacific. Sheltered from the strong mistral wind, it features crystal clear waters of an intense turquoise color and a shallow sandy bottom. Thick Mediterranean scrub and pine trees surround the beach and perfume the air. It’s frequented mostly by families with children, who enjoy spending the day in this incredible piece of heaven.

It is located along the east coast, nearly 3 km from Carloforte, along the main road that leads to all the beaches.

As soon as you reach the dirt Continua...

THE TUNA BELU (STOMACH)
The most valuable part of the fish
This is a traditional dish that uses the belu, or tuna stomach, which is one of the most delicious and refined parts of the fish.

You can purchase it fresh or dried. If using the dried version, it must be soaked in water the night before, then rinsed and boiled for about an hour, and drained.

Once cooked, it is cut into strips and browned in a large skillet with coarsely chopped onions, tomato slices and a splash of dry white wine. Add cubes of potato and cook on low heat for an hour. It is not necessary to add salt.

When done, turn of Continua...

DIVING IN CARLOFORTE
Diving among the tuna and seagrass
Posidonia (seagrass) beds, reefs, gorges, caves and sandy bottoms, the island of San Pietro, offers an extraordinary variety for those who love diving, snorkeling and underwater photography. But the most exhilarating period in which to have these diving experiences is from spring to autumn, when the tuna come to reproduce in the clear, warm waters around the island. They come here following invisible paths in the sea, driven by the currents. From mid-May to mid-June, the period of the tuna fishing, you can dive, accompanied by specialized guides, in the Tonnare of Carloforte (tuna fishery) where you can admire through the nets, the passage of the tun Continua...

THE TABARCHINO, THE LANGUAGE OF CARLOFORTE
The minor language with the most speakers
Tabarkinois spoken by more than 85% of the inhabitants of Carloforte, but it is not recognized as a "language" by the Italian law that protects minority languages. Luckily, Tabarkino does not need protection. Ancient and unusual, impossible to hear spoken anywhere else in the world apart from the neighboring town of Calasetta, Tabarkino is a language similar to that in use among the Pegliesi settlers of the sixteenth century, ancestors of people from Carloforte, with some Arabic, Sicilian and French influence.

Carloforte was founded by a Continua...