Mace bearer costume

The spectacle of the Sinjska Alka extends well beyond the actual charges on horseback. The costumes, rituals and ceremony surrounding it are all essentials parts of the tradition. Alkar can only be men born in Sinj or one of the surrounding villages, and they must be sure horsemen and strong enough to wield the long, heavy spears with precision. The men and their horses wear elaborate costumes identical to those worn by the 18th-century defenders of Sinj. Each year, one alkar is appointed the Duke of Alka—he commands the alkari and inspects them before the competition to ensure that their costumes and accoutrement are to the tournament standard. The horseback competition is only part of the spectacle of the Sinjska Alka. The elaborate costumes and weaponry, worn by knights, their horses and squires, and other festival participants are faithful recreations of those worn in the 18th century, when the tradition of the Sinjska Alka began.