Immerse yourself in the traditions of Salento with the patron saint of Gallipoli
The traditional feasts of the patron saints are an identifying trait of our Salento, not because they are not celebrated elsewhere but because with us they have maintained their ancient charm, remaining as good as unchanged over the course of centuries.
The feasts of the patron saints are feasts that involve the whole population in their devotion, enjoyment and togetherness and can’t be missed in a holiday for those who observe them. The feasts of the patron saints in Gallipoli take place between the 24th and 27th of July, in an ideal period for enjoying the sea and discovering the charm of traditional populations.
The true feast of the patron saint as it is observed here in the South is characterised not only by masses devoted to the patron saint but also by a series of other elements: illuminations, which should be breath-taking in their opulence and magnificence; the concerts by the local band, which should play the most famous opera arias in the local bandstand; the fireworks that are visible from kilometres away, giving a celebration of lights and colours, mixed with the carefree conversation of people out for a stroll, at the stalls with all their delicacies, where you can’t pass up on the nuts, peanuts, lupin beans, olives, and other savoury delicacies.
During the days of the feast you can taste traditional sweets, such as ‘mustazzoli’ (traditional biscuits) or ‘cupeta’, a crunchy bar of almonds in solidified sugar, made with traditional techniques. You can nibble as you stroll or maybe while you listen to the concerts, immersing yourself fully in the atmosphere of the place.
Saint Cristina is the patron saint of Gallipoli due to having liberated it from the grip of cholera in 1867. To remember this miracle forever, a chapel was erected in Moro Square containing a papier-mâché statue which depicts the saint tied to a mast and pierced with arrows, an emblem of her martyrdom in 290 B.C. and it is this statue that is carried in the procession.
If you hear an inhabitant of Gallipoli saying that they will not be bathing during the days of the feast, it is because the belief is still alive that whoever bathes during the days dedicated to Saint Cristina will be struck by sudden illness. Don’t worry, there’s no danger, and you can even take advantage of the beaches that are more spacious than usual!
The illuminations are usually placed in Corso Roma, with its splendid framing by the sea on both sides, an unmissable spectacle, above all during the evening when the lights are reflected on the water.
Another characteristic event of the feast of Gallipoli is the ‘Cuccagna a mare’, a competition in which the boldest youths challenge each other to climbing a vertical mast with no handholds, and usually covered in grease, placed in the prow of a fishing boat. The aim is to be the first to reach a tricolour flag placed at the extremity, and obviously glory is reserved for the heroes of arduous feats.
