Genderless masked demigods in 16th-century ceremonial garb, terrifying feats of horsemanship, bystanders munching on sugary fried treats, and one coveted tiny tin star: This is sa Sartiglia di Oristano, the island of Sardinia’s strangest and most exuberant event of Carnevale season.

For more than six centuries, the town of Oristano — located in the central-western part of Sardinia — has staged a heart-thumping two days of jousting, parades and show-stopping horsemanship. With a blend of medieval Spanish, Christian and pagan influences, sa Sartiglia and its preeminent race Corsa alla Stella (“race to the star”) go back to at least the 11th century, according to today’s organizers.