Eventi

There is a multiplicity of festivals that take place in Ostuni during the year, connected to popular traditions and of a religious character, such as San Biagio. The festival of the Boat, the Madonna della Nova, the Madonna della Stella etc. However, the most popular period is the Ostuni August that includes various exhibitions and shows of an artistic, cultural, sporting and commercial nature.

Sant’Oronzo

Among the most important of the summer festivals, is that of Sant’ Oronzo in honour of the patron saint that takes place every year on 25 th , 26 th and 27 th of August. The festival has various events, the most noteworthy of which is the famous horse parade, where a procession of horses with colourful saddle cloths and horse riders with red arabesque costumes of white lace accompany the patron saint in a procession. The festival originates from around the 1650’s when Italy was struck by the plague, to thank the saint for the averted peril. Throughout this period there is the Market of Sant’ Oronzo. Of antique origins, this market revives typical traditional commerce including the trade of animals and handicrafts still in use in the countryside.

Sagra “Vecchi Tempi”

This festival takes place in the centre of Ostuni on 15 th August. Along the picturesque streets, old customs, crafts, traditions and cooking is revived, the protagonists of which are the inhabitants themselves of the old quarter. As mentioned, one can taste typical dishes of the local gastronomy, prepared traditionally; or observe the art of straw weaving; the wicker and reed is used to make panniers and mats. One can also admire ancient crafts that have now died out, like “l’umbrellare” and “l’acconzapiatte”, craftsmen that repaired umbrellas in a particular way and those that repaired clay and ceramic objects, or “lu curdelare” (ropemaker) that wove vegetable fibres to form ropes, that up to some time ago were used to make “fiscoli” (a large circular plate of fibre used to squeeze the oil from olives).
che fino a poco tempo fa serviva per fare i “fiscoli” (un grande piatto tondo fatto di filoncini per spremere le olive).

Notte di San Giovanni

This festival takes place on the 24 th June, a night of stars and secrets, mixed with the aroma of herbs and nuts, which are especially collected this night to make nocino (an invigorating liqueur). A local myth states that when a woman breaks an egg that evening and examines the egg white the next morning she will see the first letters of the name of her future husband.

Festival Nazionale Artisti di Strada

This festival has been successfully taking place for several years and features some of the best Italian street artists, who demonstrate their arts in the characteristic streets of the old town, which is a perfect stage for them. In the evenings, when the festival takes place, one can walk along the hidden alleyways of the old town of Ostuni and encounter a balladeer, a man on stilts or even a fire eater and be entertained by the musicians and mime artists who offer a fascinating and ever changing array of shows.

Fiera del Fischietto in terracotta

The terracotta whistle dates back to the Middle Ages. One of the whistles in the form of a hen was found in the cave called Cala Scizzo in Torre a Mare in the province of Bari. This exhibition, which has an artistic as well as cultural role, is known throughout Italy and takes place in July and August. It attracts collectors from the whole region. The pieces are handmade, very originally shaped and mostly have bright colours. As a result of this successful event, there is now a permanent exhibition in the old town of Ostuni.

Fiera Mostra del Ferragosto Ostunese

From an economic point of view, this is certainly the most important event. In rooms of the exhibition centre, dealers and artists from the whole region exhibit their handicrafts and artistic products. This fair is one the most important of the region.

Zaccaredde

On every second Sunday of the month, a flea and antique market takes place in Viale Oronzo Quaranta along the town walls, which has become well known in southern Puglia.

Concerti estivi (concerti estivi)

Every August in Ostuni and other towns in Puglia, there are summer concerts with Italian stars, performing in the evenings in the open air and enjoy popularity with the town’s inhabitants and visitors alike.