A sagra (food festival) which takes place every year in the old town of Montesardo, a small town close to Alessano. You can taste pork and home-made pasta as well as traditional dishes such as marenna (a mix of fried bread, turnip tops and chick peas), le pittule (little shapes made out of bread dough and deep fried), fritta and wild vegetable specialities.

Oria : Medieval Festival of "Corto Storico di Federico ll" (2nd weekend)
Travel through time and experience the medieval atmosphere of the court of Federico. Medieval procession and tournaments, this is the only medieval re-enactment of the period taking place in Italy today. A wonderful spectacle of colours and atmosphere with meticulous historical detail that has few parallels in similar medieval events. The opulent era of Federico is represented faithfully by the movements and behaviour of nobles, ladies, knights, jesters, courtiers, muscians, squires and pages.

Castro : "Madonna dei Rosario di Pompei" (12th)
This festa is dominated by fireworks over Castro's bay reflecting incredible colours in the waters of the Adriatic Sea. The festa celebrates the safe return of Castro's fishermen after a miraculous event helped to calm the sea. Now a mass is held on a boat, followed by a sea procession. When the sea procession, with the statue of the Madonna, arrives back in the port, usually around 10pm the firework display begins.

During the summertime many food festivals are held in Castro, for example at the end of August there is a Fish Festival in the port area, celebrating fish such as anchovies, sardines and mackeral. More information should be available in the Tourist Information offices or in the magazine Qui Salento.

Otranto : Festa dei Martiri Idruntini (13th to 15th)
During the Patron Saint Festival in Otranto, the town's 800 martyrs are remembered and commemorated. Every year, from 13th to 15th August, people living in the town remember the time when the town was overrun and attacked by the Turks in 1480. The town itself was not actually defended by the Spanish troops who were supposed to protect Otranto, but by the 'otrantini' themselves. Mostly fishermen, artisans and farmers they fought to defend their town from the raids.

That day, in 1480, it is said that 'NO' was shouted out 800 times, because in front of Acmet Pascia, 800 people from Otranto refused to deny their Christian faith and were then beheaded on Minerva Hill. Now the martyr's reliquaries are kept inside the Cathedral, in big shrines, in the alter to the right of the main one. Even though centuries have gone by, you will find looking at these bones is very moving. Every year, on 14th August, a symbolice shrine containing a small part of these remains is carried through the old town as part of a procession.

The festival days in honour of Otranto's martyrs resemble many other local festivals too, because apart from the religious traditions, stalls and street lights are on display and bands come to play in Otranto. It must be said that the best part of this festa takes place on 14th August after one o'clock in the morning. Walk to the top of the castle walls a bit before 1am to admire the marvellous fireworks, display. Fireworks are shot up from the sea and fill the dark blue water and skies with colour.

Taranto : Le Notte della Taranta (13th to 28th)
Le Notte dela Taranta is the largest event that there is in the Salento, over one hundred thousand people dancing to the rhythm of the tarantula and performance from "Le Notte della Taranta" orchestra.

Spongano : Conserva Mara (14th)
Celebrating the traditionally made Salatine paste, typically made from tomatoes, hot peppers, basil, onions and salt. There are three kinds of conserva mara and they are all sold in small jars at the sagra (you can taste it first). Mara means hot in dialect and the three kinds vary in intensity. Two famous Salento music bands play at the festa which is held in the main square, Piazza Vittoria.

Cannole : The 'municeddha' and the 'cuzzari' (mid month)
Miniceddha is a very expensive kind of shellfish, up to 20 or 25 euros a kilo. The Salentini love eating this kind of fish. It can be fried, cooked with onions and herbs browned in oil, with bay leaves or tomato sauce, or grilled.

In Cannole, a small town only a few kilometres from Otranto, the Festa della Municeddha is celebrated every year for four days, during the week before 15th August. The inhabitants of Cannole are acutally often called 'cuzzari' which means 'snail pickers'. People here say that this is the most important snail festival in the whole of the South of Italy. Every year about 250 people take par in it. It is very successful and popular, thanks to the support from Cerceto Pro Loco.  The big sagra area is set up with long tables and comfy stools. During the afternoon you can visit the nearby, recently restored Masseria Torcito. Every evening, during the festa, different bands play.

This is one of the most fascinating events in the Salento. Celebrations in honour of Saint Rocco take place on 15th August in Torrepaduli, a small town in the Ruffano area. This is your chance to find out more about the popular pizzica dance. You will hear the sound of tambourines in the background and you can watch the famous 'sword dance' here. During the festa, religous traditions and everyday life happily come together with the celebrations taking place in the square in front of the Church of San Rocco.

This kind of dance is elegant and gallant. Sword dance performers look into each other eyes, concentrating and pretending that they have a sword or sharp knife in their hands. They act out a duel, while the rhythm of the drums in the background gets faster and faster and the dancers get more and more tired. Just like the pizzica, the sword dance has strict rules that must be followed in order to respect traditions faithfully. For example, dancers have to wait for their turn before entering the circle formed by the performers, a "ronda" is considered a circle embracing power and energy. Older people always go first because they are more familiar with the traditions and general and with this dance in particular. Dancing stops at 4 o'clock in the morning as a form of respect to Saint Rocco, at this time rituals in his honour start again.

If you want to take part in this festa bear in mind it is better to reach Torrepaduli early in the afternoon, if you go in the evening you might be stuck in a traffic jam. The main road leading to the square in front of the Sanctuary is always crowded with people in the evening.

Locorotondo : Saint Rocco (16th)
The festival of San Rocco (saint of Montpellier) spans 3 days in mid August, but the preceding weeks are busy as visitors and locals who have moved away arrive early to take part in the festivities. As well as the festas there are market stalls and the town and surrounding countryside is adorned with colourful lighting. On the morning of 16th "La Diana" takes place. A local band parades through the town filling the streets with subtle and haunting sounds of the Mediterranean. Church services are held in the morning, followed by processions through the streets. The festa continues long into the night and early morning of 17th with bands, food - including local specialities - and spectacular fireworks.

Melpignano : Notta della Tranta (18th)
A massive 'taranta' concert, La Notta della Taranta, attracts thousands. Well known singers and rock stars take part. Similar events are held in other Salento towns but this one is really the main event.

Lecce's patron saint is celebrated with processions, firworks, music and lots of shows.This is the most village-like festa amongst all the patron saint festivities within the province of Lecce.

It is celebrated in honour of Lecce's Patron Saint, the 'Beato Oronzo'. Every year celebrations go on for three days, from 24th to 26th August. Usually this coincides with the time when the 'leccese' come back to their homes after the long summer holidays. During the festa of Sant'Oranzo many people from smaller towns near Lecce come into town to take a look and stroll around the old city in the evening. It is a deeply religious event and you can also admire the wonderful costumes that are worn. Celebrations are held in the square named after the saint, Piazza Sant'Oranzo. In the middle of the piazza, a statue of Sant'Oranzo stands on a column that orginally came from one of the crosiers of the columns placed at the end of the ancient Via Appia (Brindisi). Sant'Oranzo looks down from above on everything going on, blessing Lecce and the people with his right hand.

For three days everything else in Lecce stops while the festa is going on. The same thing happens outside Lecce to, so there is plenty of traffic on the main roads around the town. The centre of Lecce is crowded with people walking slowly along, amongst hundreds of stalls and around the main park.

On 24th August, in the afternoon, a solemn procession moves through the town's streets. Many people take part in it and at the head of the procession you will see statues representing Sant'Oronzo, the Blessed Joint Patron Saints Giusto and Fortunato, and the Bishop. The procession comes to an end in Piazza Duomo where on the parvis in front of the Church the Archbishop makes a speech.

Ostuni : La Cavalcata (26th)
The feast day of the patron saint of Ostuni, Sant' Oronzo, said to have protected Ostuni from the plage of 1656 is celebrated on 26th August. The statue of Sant' Oranzo is escorted through the town by a troop of red and white uniformed horsemen.

The festa is normally held over four days beginning with a pilgramage to the Shrine of Sant' Oronzo on the evening of the first day, starting at 18:00 at the Church of San Louis. The "Cavalcade of Sant' Oronzo", the escorted procession normally starts at 19:00 on 26th August.

During the four days there are bands, concerts and fireworks.

 In honour of the composer Leonard Leo, born in San Vito dei Normanni in 1694, free concerts every night, in San Vito dei Normanni and surrounding towns. All concerts start at 21:00. More information from the Tourist Information offices or in the magazine Qui Salento.

Brindisi : San Theodore (from the last Sunday in August for eight days)
Regatta, boat race and water fireworks celebrating Saint Theodore, the Patron Saint of Shipping. Beginning on the last Sunday in August for eight days, Brindisi celebrates every night of the week with fireworks, religous processions through the city and more. In particular is the much anticipated "Palio dell'Arca" - a competition in which fishing boats "race", as fast as fishing boats can race anyway, against each other to see who will arrive first at a point where the coveted Ark of Silver is, within which sits a facsimile of the remains of the Saint.

June to September - Lecce

Throughout the summer Lecce hosts a number of free events including concerts, comedy, theatre, dance etc. More information will be available from Lecce Tourist Info or in the magazine Qui Salento.