Celebrations sadly turned sour at the 2025 San Francesco di Lula festival in Sardinia. While the new priors of the festivities, Daniela Marongiu and Giovanni Farina, were taking part in the traditional pilgrimage from Nuoro to Lula, their home got broken into and several valuables were stolen.
The dominant theory
Initial reports suggested that it was a well-planned heist with the robbers knowing exactly when nobody would be at the house. There was no forced entry, implying that someone knew the house would be empty, allowing them to take their time and stay under the radar. They made off with several valuables, including gold jewellery that was not only expensive but had a deep sentimental value.
Giovanni and Daniela only found out after they returned from the “S’Arbore” lunch, one of the big communal meals that signals the end of the biannual event.
The local police immediately got to work checking out camera footage and talking to neighbours, trying to figure out who was responsible. Meanwhile, the community rallied round to support the couple. The locals were incandescent that something like this happened during such an important and spiritual celebration for the region. (There is a slight irony that Saint Francis lived a life of poverty and was not interested in material things.)
The San Francesco festival is one of Sardinia’s most beloved religious traditions, held every May and October. It is usually full of warmth, music, and faith, but this year’s celebration ended on a sad and frustrating note for all involved.