{"id":3068,"date":"2026-07-31T15:35:09","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T13:35:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rioexperience.info\/portfolio\/festa-della-sportella\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T10:46:33","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T08:46:33","slug":"festa-della-sportella-the-sportella-festival","status":"publish","type":"portfolio","link":"https:\/\/www.rioexperience.info\/en\/portfolio\/festa-della-sportella-the-sportella-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"Festa della Sportella (The Sportella Festival)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id='full_slider_1'  class='avia-fullwidth-slider main_color avia-shadow   avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-first   container_wrap sidebar_right'  >\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-ms8zf6t4-47f7289f8e1ce9156ce4ff19ef65ed63\">\n#top #wrap_all .avia-slideshow .av-slideshow-caption.av-ms8zf6t4-47f7289f8e1ce9156ce4ff19ef65ed63__0 .avia-caption-title{\nfont-size:70px;\n}\n\n@media only screen and (min-width: 480px) and (max-width: 767px){ \n#top #wrap_all .avia-slideshow .av-slideshow-caption.av-ms8zf6t4-47f7289f8e1ce9156ce4ff19ef65ed63__0 .avia-caption-title{\nfont-size:30px;\n}\n}\n\n@media only screen and (max-width: 479px){ \n#top #wrap_all .avia-slideshow .av-slideshow-caption.av-ms8zf6t4-47f7289f8e1ce9156ce4ff19ef65ed63__0 .avia-caption-title{\nfont-size:30px;\n}\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-slideshow av-ms8zf6t4-47f7289f8e1ce9156ce4ff19ef65ed63 avia-slideshow-featured_large av_slideshow_full avia-fade-slider av-slideshow-ui av-control-minimal av-slideshow-autoplay av-loop-endless av-loop-manual-endless av-default-height-applied   avia-slideshow-1' data-slideshow-options=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fade&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:true,&quot;loop_autoplay&quot;:&quot;endless&quot;,&quot;interval&quot;:5,&quot;loop_manual&quot;:&quot;manual-endless&quot;,&quot;autoplay_stopper&quot;:false,&quot;noNavigation&quot;:false,&quot;bg_slider&quot;:false,&quot;keep_padding&quot;:false,&quot;hoverpause&quot;:false,&quot;show_slide_delay&quot;:0}\"  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><ul class='avia-slideshow-inner ' style='padding-bottom: 42%;'><li  class='avia-slideshow-slide av-ms8zf6t4-47f7289f8e1ce9156ce4ff19ef65ed63__0  av-single-slide slide-1 slide-odd'><div data-rel='slideshow-1' class='avia-slide-wrap '   ><div class='av-slideshow-caption av-ms8zf6t4-47f7289f8e1ce9156ce4ff19ef65ed63__0 caption_fullwidth caption_right'><div class=\"container caption_container\"><div class=\"slideshow_caption\"><div class=\"slideshow_inner_caption\"><div class=\"slideshow_align_caption\"><h2 class='avia-caption-title '  itemprop=\"name\" >The Sportella Festival<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><img decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"wp-image-946 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-946\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.rioexperience.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/DSC_0579-1500x630.jpg\" width=\"1500\" height=\"630\" title='Festa della Sportella' alt=''  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"   \/><div class='av-section-color-overlay' style='opacity: 0.3; background-color: #000000; '><\/div><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><div id='after_full_slider_1'  class='main_color av_default_container_wrap container_wrap sidebar_right'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-small alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-3068'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-ms8zi8wh-f7ff7746e20f87e3d0c6a08ce0921fdf '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>The Festa della Sportella (Sportella Festival) is one of the most cherished and evocative traditional events in Rio nell&#8217;Elba. Celebrated every year on <strong>Pasquetta \/ Luned\u00ec dell&#8217;Angelo (Easter Monday \/ Angel&#8217;s Monday)<\/strong>, the occasion combines devotion, folklore, traditional flavors, and outdoor conviviality set against the stunning backdrop of the Hermitage of Santa Caterina.<\/p>\n<p><strong>History and the Ritual of Love<\/strong><br \/>\nThe origin of the festival is intertwined with an ancient and romantic Easter courtship custom. According to tradition, on Domenica delle Palme (Palm Sunday), a young man in love would send a flower basket containing a cerimito (a traditional cake symbolizing masculinity) to the girl he desired. If the young woman reciprocated his feelings, on Pasqua (Easter Sunday) she would respond by sending him a sportella\u2014a blessed sweet bread shaped like a ring with crossed ends, tied with a ribbon and decorated with colorful sprinkles.<\/p>\n<p>Luned\u00ec di Pasquetta (Easter Monday) thus became the eagerly awaited occasion for their first official meeting: the inhabitants of Rio nell&#8217;Elba and Rio Marina walked in procession up the mule track toward the Hermitage of Santa Caterina where, after Holy Mass, the young couples could finally stroll together and exchange traditional sweets.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Event Today<\/strong><br \/>\nToday, the Festa della Sportella (Sportella Festival) brings this ancient ritual back to life, transforming the Hermitage of Santa Caterina area into a vibrant gathering spot for residents and visitors. Throughout the day, visitors can sample the traditional Elban sportella prepared by local bakeries, attend Holy Mass, and enjoy a classic Easter Monday outing surrounded by nature, live music, local food stalls, and cultural activities.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Useful Information<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen it takes place: Every year on<strong> Luned\u00ec dell&#8217;Angelo \/ Pasquetta (Easter Monday \/ Angel&#8217;s Monday)<\/strong>.<br \/>\nWhere it takes place: Hermitage of Santa Caterina (Eremo di Santa Caterina), Rio nell&#8217;Elba.<br \/>\nType of event: Traditional, religious, and food-and-wine festival.<br \/>\nDon&#8217;t miss: Tasting the typical sportella and enjoying the scenic walk along the trails leading to the Sanctuary.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1474,"template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"portfolio_entries":[109,110],"class_list":["post-3068","portfolio","type-portfolio","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","portfolio_entries-eventi-2","portfolio_entries-eventi-rio-nellelba"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - 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