Puglia (Under Construction)

Puglia

Puglia, also known as Apulia in English, is a region located in the southern part of Italy. It has glorious, coastlines, historical towns, and a rich cultural heritage dating back to the 8th century B.C.E. when it was colonized by the Greeks. It’s been shaped by its diverse cultural influences, including Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Norman, Spanish, and others. Puglia is renowned for its delicious cuisine, featuring fresh seafood, handmade pasta, and flavorful olive oil. Be sure to try local specialties such as orecchiette pasta, burrata cheese, and taralli biscuits, paired with a glass of Primitivo or Negroamaro wine. Puglia is also home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Alberobello, famous for its unique trulli houses with conical roofs; Castel de Monte, and the Sanctuary of San Michele Arcangelo. Puglia hosts the largest tarantella festival in the world, the Notte della Tarant, lasting one month in 15 towns, and some of the most well-attended classical and jazz festivals in Italy. Due to its natural beauty, crystal-clear waters, rugged coastline and pristine beaches, Puglia is a popular vacation destination for sun-seekers. It is also a regular host for the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, an equestrian regalia called the Cavlcata di Sant’ Oronzo in the town of Sant’Oronzo, the Otranto Jazz Festival which attracts jazz enthusiasts from around the world. Puglia has something for everyone.

Red Bull Cliff Diving, Photo by Franxuc

Festivals in Puglia in 2024

Read all about Festivals in Puglia at this site:  https://bestinpuglia.com/en/festival-puglia

Here’s a quick reference by month for the region.

March

18 & 19:  March is the month to celebrate the feast day of St. Joseph, (San Giuseppe) throughout Italy. San Giuseppe’s feast day is on March 19th.  Celebrations begin in some cities like San Cassiano and Giurdignano on March 18th.   San Giuseppe is celebrated in many cities on his feast day on the 19th including Lecce, Maglie, Guagnano, Uggiano la Chiesa, Cutrofiano, and are often accompanied by sagras (festivals) with local dishes.

April

6: Sagra della “cuddura”, in Santa Cesarea Terme.  Note: Source from e-borghi.com: In Santa Cesarea Terme, on Easter Monday, the Sagra della cuddura is held. This is a sweet bread with one or more whole hard-boiled eggs inside. Its meaning is a reminder of abundance and also fertility, as symbolized by the egg. 

May

7-9: La Festa di San Nicola, in Bari. In 1087, the remains of Saint Nicholas were brought to Bari from Myra in Turkey. Today the festival honoring him is a three-day event. The Festa begins on 7th May with a stirring historical procession through the streets of Bari Vecchia. A large icon of the Saint is accompanied by around 500 specially costumed attendants and when the Saint is returned to his Basilica for the night, the bells ring out and the celebrations burst into life. On the final night, you will be treated to a spectacular fireworks display.

June

29: La Festa di San Pietro e Paolo (Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul) in Otranto. This festival honors the patron saints of Otranto with religious ceremonies, parades, and traditional music and dance performances.

 July

15: San Vito Martire Feast, an important religious celebration in Polignano a Mare. It features religious processions, traditional music, and local food.

Third week of July, Food Festival in Crispiano. Enjoy liver, snails, focaccia and gelato.

Third Weekend in July, the Otranto Jazz Festival

July-August

Festival della Valle d'Itria. This is a renowned classical music festival that takes place in various locations across the Valle d'Itria area of Puglia, including Martina Franca. It features operas, concerts, and other musical performances.

Ferragosto, August 15th

August

2-3: The Sceblasti Feast, in Zollino.  Two evenings of delicious culinary products and ancient folk traditions from Greek influences and history.

14: Feast of the Martyrs, in Otranto. This event commemorates the martyrs of Otranto who were killed by Ottoman invaders in 1480. It usually takes place on August 14th and includes religious processions, concerts, and fireworks.

15: FERRAGOSTO - a National Holiday. Also the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. It is a national holiday in Italy, and many towns all over Italy, like Alberobello in Puglia, host special events, concerts, and fireworks.

25-27: Cavalcata di Sant'Oronzo, in Polignano a Mare. An equestrian event to honor the town’s patron saint, Saint Oronzo, featuring a colorful parade, horseback riding events, and various festivities.

September

A month-long celebration, La Notte della Taranta, a festival that take place in 15 towns around the Salento area, (central and south) Puglia.

November

11: Festa di San Martino, in Martina Franca. This is a local celebration dedicated to the patron saint of the city, San Martino (St. Martin).

December

Living Nativity Scene (Presepe Vivente). During the Christmas season, many towns in Italy organize a living nativity scene, where locals dress in period costumes and reenact scenes from the Nativity. Alberobello is one of the towns in Puglia.

Favorite Places to Visit in Puglia

  • Lecce, known as the “Florence of the South”, rich in Baroque art and architecture and also famous for the papier-mâché art (cartapesta) since the 17th century.

  • Alberobello

  • Polignano a Mare

  • Ostuni

  • The Salento Peninsula and the towns of Otranto and the beaches of Gallipoli

  • Trani

  • Gargano National Park

  • Vieste

  • Martina Franca

  • San Cassiano

  • Giurdignano

  • Uggiano

  • Santa Cesarea Terme

  • Bari

  • Zollino