The Galatina Patronal Feast 2025

Taranta Ritual and Official Event Program

The summer in Salento kicks off with one of the most heartfelt and attended events in the region: the Galatina Patronal Feast, scheduled from June 28 to 30, 2025. The city pays homage to its Patron Saints, Peter and Paul, figures deeply tied to the local religious and cultural tradition.

Dedicated to them is the square bearing their name, the beating heart of the historic center, and the stunning church in Lecce Baroque style, a true architectural gem. Along with the famous Basilica of Santa Caterina d’Alessandria, these places have become true identity symbols of the city. Around the square, between historic cafés and local venues, one can feel the lively atmosphere of one of the most charming urban hubs in Puglia.

The Tradition

As often happens in the heart of the South, history and legend are deeply intertwined. It is said that during their journey to the Holy Land, Saints Peter and Paul made a stop in Galatina. The church dedicated to them still preserves, as a relic, the rock on which Saint Paul is believed to have sat.

A short distance away, inside the Tondi-Vignola Palace, there is a chapel known as the “Chapel of the Taranta.” Today, it is consecrated to Saint Paul, venerated as the protector of the “tarantate,” and is a destination for pilgrimages and devotional rites passed down through generations. In the palace courtyard, there is also an ancient well, whose water is considered miraculous according to popular tradition.

The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul in Galatina

Among the largest and most spectacular celebrations in Salento, the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul in Galatina is an unmissable event of the Pugliese summer. The historic center and the main streets of the town are adorned with traditional lights, transforming the streets into a magical display of lights, colors, and sounds.

In recent years, alongside the lights, Galatina has also been decorated with the typical zacareddhre (or zagarelle): colorful ribbons sold during the patronal festivals. These ribbons once had a symbolic and therapeutic function in the rites of tarantism: they were waved in front of the “tarantata” to identify the disturbing color, which was then torn and trampled, in a ritual act of liberation from the taranta that had bitten her.

The festival’s program is rich in religious and folkloric moments. Among the most heartfelt: the solemn procession of the Saints, liturgical celebrations, and the reenactment of the tarantate ritual. Today, this ritual is represented by actors in traditional costumes who arrive on carts, accompanied by the hypnotic rhythm of tambourines and violins, evoking the frantic dance of the tarantate seeking healing.

The Night of the Ronde 2025 in Galatina

On the evening of June 28th, the evocative Notte delle Ronde is celebrated, marking the beginning of the Salento summer: after the procession, spontaneous groups form in the squares and alleys, playing music and dancing until dawn. A collective ritual that brings together travelers and the local community in an atmosphere of sharing and spirituality.

Naturally, the gastronomic tradition is not to be missed: at the market stalls, visitors can enjoy local specialties like cupeta (local nougat), snails, scapece gallipolina, and the classic panini with local sausage, a true icon of street food at festivals.

The event concludes with the much-anticipated fireworks display, lighting up the Salento sky and setting the date for the next edition.
Music, faith, folklore, and flavors: the Galatina Feast brings together all the ingredients of Puglia’s great folk celebrations.

The Special Guest: Nek in Concert in Galatina

Nek will be the main musical guest of the Patronal Feast of Saints Peter and Paul in Galatina. The Emilia-Romagna singer-songwriter will perform on June 30, 2025, in Piazza Alighieri. His concert will close the three days of celebrations in grand style.

The artist will take the stage with his “Nek Hits – Live 2025” tour. The show retraces over thirty years of his career through his most beloved songs. Filippo Neviani – known as Nek – will bring energy, emotion, and timeless hits to the stage.

Some of the most anticipated songs include Laura non c’è, Fatti avanti amore, Se io non avessi te, Lascia che io sia, and Se telefonando. The latter is a famous cover first performed at the Sanremo Festival in 2015.

In recent years, Nek has shared the stage with Francesco Renga in a successful artistic collaboration. Their joint album, RengaNek, was promoted through singles like L’infinito più o meno, Il solito lido, and Inspiegabile.

A reissue of the album was released in 2024. It included the track Pazzo di te, which was presented at the 74th Sanremo Festival.

In Galatina, Nek will be joined by his Power Trio. Emiliano Fantuzzi will play guitar, Luciano Galloni will be on drums, and Nek himself will play bass. The concert will be essential and powerful, with a focus on the authenticity of live sound.

For those still in Puglia in July, Nek will return to the region. He is scheduled to perform on July 27th in Castellana Grotte (BA), for the event Piazze d’Estate – Largo Porta Grande.

The concert in Galatina is expected to be one of the most emotional and well-attended moments of the Patronal Feast. It will bring together different generations in celebration of Italian music.

Program of the Galatina Patronal Feast 2025

Pending the official program

June 16

7:30 PM – Holy Mass and enthronement of the statues of Saints Peter and Paul

June 19 – 27 | Novena in honor of the Patron Saints

7:00 PM – Rosary
7:30 PM – Prayer
7:45 PM – Holy Mass

June 26

Holy Mass with the Noha community

June 27

Holy Mass with the Collemeto and Santa Barbara communities

June 28 – Feast Vigil

7:00 PM – Holy Mass
8:00 PM – Procession with the statues of Saints Peter and Paul
9:30 PM – Lighting of the luminaries
10:00 PM – Orchestra concert on the bandstand, Piazza San Pietro
1:00 AM – Night of the Ronde

June 29 – Feast of Saints Peter and Paul

6:00 AM, 7:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 7:00 PM, 8:00 PM – Holy Masses
10:30 AM – Ritual of the Taranta in Piazza San Pietro
1:30 AM – Fireworks display

June 30 – Saint Paul’s Day

7:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 7:30 PM – Holy Masses
10:00 PM – Nek live concert – “Nek Hits – Live 2025” tour, Piazza Alighieri

Don’t miss the chance to experience the magic of the first notes of summer in the beautiful setting of Galatina. Our apartaments, located in the heart of the festivities, is just a few steps from Nek’s concert and the celebrations that enliven the historic center, offering you a unique experience filled with tradition, music, and fun.