Corridor: Via Adriatica
Country: Croatia, Sinj
Type: Intangible Heritage
Epoch:
Theme: Intangible Heritage
World Heritage:

The Alka tournament is a unique jousting tournament in today's Europe. It takes place every month of August in Sinj, a small town in continental Dalmatia, some 40 km north of Split. The procession of the Alkars includes the Duke, the company of Alkars, the company of squires and their escort. The company of Alkars is made up of the contenders and their commander (Alaj-caus). On Alka day, early in the morning, mackula are fired from the top of Grad (fortress), followed by the orchestra passing through Sinj's centre, playing a patriotic march. After the sounds of the march die down, the Alkars, the squires and the crowd assemble at the fortress. Memories are renewed of the heroic and glorious struggle for freedom of Cetinska krajina. They are all dressed in venerable aristocratic attires, with caps sable flaunting the white feather of a heron or of a crane.

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