Annunziata Fair and Festival

A festival with medieval roots

The Annunziata Fair and Festival is one of the most cherished events in Squinzano, a town in the province of Lecce, in the heart of Northern Salento, Puglia. Every year, between the prayer novena and the Solemnity of the Annunciation on March 25th, the town gathers around its Madonna, affectionately called Nunziatella by the locals.

The fair's origins are rooted in the Middle Ages and are closely linked to the Abbey of Santa Maria di Cerrate, one of the main monastic centers of Salento. During the Spanish rule in the 17th century, the event solidified its economic importance for the entire Northern Salento region, becoming a commercial hub for the area.

The Sanctuary on Via Manca and local devotion

The heart of the celebrations is the Annunziata Sanctuary on Via Manca, which tradition says was built by Maria Manca, a local miller to whom the miracles performed by the Madonna are attributed. Today, the sanctuary is twinned with the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, a testament to a spiritual bond that extends far beyond the town's borders. The Confraternity of the Annunziata and the Madonna del Garofano is responsible for preserving and passing down this devotion.

The spring fair

For the farming communities of Salento, the March fair represented a crucial moment in the annual agricultural cycle: seeds, tools, and livestock were exchanged in preparation for the new season of field work. Even today, the fair retains this symbolic value, representing the awakening of spring and the cyclical nature of life. Strolling through the stalls set up in the streets adjacent to the Sanctuary means breathing in the sense of community that has characterized Squinzano for centuries.

Faith, music, and tradition

The religious program alternates between moments of intense spirituality and ancient traditions: the novena, the singing of Vespers to the Madonna, the solemn procession through the town center with the statue of the Annunziata, and Eucharistic celebrations presided over by bishops. The rites are often accompanied by the Santa Cecilia Polyphonic Choir, while street bands perform among the market stalls during the fair days.