INSIDE SAN PANTALEO’S MARKET

WHAT’S SPECIAL ABOUT SAN PANTALEO?

Hundred of years ago a few shepherds built their houses at the feet of huge granite mountains. These were simple Stazzi, traditional Sardinian country cottages made up of one single room with a fireplace.

A piazza (square) lined with white and pink oleander trees and a church of granite mark the centre of this peaceful place.

A few centuries later, artists coming from other Sardinian towns and from other locations around Europe fell in love with San Pantaleo and moved there. They bought the existing Stazzi and opened up their boutique. Whoever could not buy a house would simply set up shop on the square at the weekly market.

That’s how the San Pantaleo market became the artists’ market par excellence in Sardinia.

WHAT CAN I FIND AT THE MARKET?

These days if you come to the market you’ll find any sorts of hand-made items – jewels, paintings, sculptures, knives, and bags.

You’ll make your way through clothing articles, from colourful bathing suits to t-shirts to expensive night dresses.

Then again you’ll be able to purchase fruits, fish, cheese, sausage products, and nougat – all from Sardinia.

IS THERE A SHOW?

At every angle, you can expect to see a good sales show.

Like the girl that sells huge sarongs. She lies on a large table wearing a bathing suit. All around her, women dig among the sarongs. Until she gets up on the table and shows everybody how to wear what she sells.

She wraps the sarong in different manners around her body and gives advice on how, for instance, to wrap the sarong to make your bosom look bigger or smaller.

In the meantime, you’ll hear musicians play the sax or African percussion instruments.

ARE THERE ANY SPECIAL ITEMS?

Sellers come from every part of the world. You’ll find, just as an example, a Brasilian man selling Capim Dourado, vegetable gold jewels.

They are made of a plant that can be plucked only in September by authorised Brasilian indigenous people.

WHO ATTENDS THE MARKET?

San Pantaleo is really just 15 minutes drive from Costa Smeralda, so oftentimes VIP people on holiday there will come to the market.

A local cheese and meat seller will tell you how he sold his Pecorino to Prince Albert of Monaco and “that actor who played the Soviet boxer in Rocky IV” – it’s actor Dolph Lundgren.

Or the fish sellers from Olbia who’ll tell you they had as customers singers Laura Pausini and Peter Gabriel or Italian TV conductress Benedetta Parodi – she’s famous for her cooking show.

IS BARGAINING ACCEPTED?

Should you be negotiating about the price or not? It depends.

It’s very difficult to get a price reduction on food. However, you may try to ask for a lower price than that on display, particularly if you are the only customer at the stand. In fact, the seller might agree with you if no other customer hears about your new bargained price.

On clothing, you have more leeway. Try to offer to buy more than one item at a lower price. Anyway, always be polite, even if none of your negotiations goes well.

WHAT ARE THE MARKET HOURS?

Market hours in San Pantaleo are from 08:30-09:00 to 12:30-13:00 every Thursday.

WHERE CAN I GET A LIGHT MEAL?

Small cafès and restaurants all around the main square offer refreshments should you extend your stay over lunch.

We like Caffè Nina for snacks on the go or a sandwich, and Restaurant Giagoni – with somewhat high prices – next to the church for a delicious Sardinian meal.

Caffè Nina, Piazza della Chiesa, 07026 San Pantaleo OT | +39-338-368-7288 | info@caffenina.it | Web

Ristorante Giagoni, Piazza della Chiesa, 07026 San Pantaleo OT | +39-0789-65224 | info@ristorantegiagoni.it | Web