Borgagne Fruit and Vegetable Festival

A festival dedicated to the fruits of the Salento land

The Borgagne Fruit and Vegetable Festival is one of the most anticipated gastronomic events of the summer in Melendugno, in the heart of Salento in the province of Lecce. Every year, between the end of July and the beginning of August, the Villa Comunale of Borgagne — a small village overlooking the hinterland of the Salento Adriatic coast — welcomes thousands of visitors drawn by the scent of the specialties prepared by hand by the members of the Pro Loco.

The fruit and vegetable tradition of Borgagne

As the name suggests, the festival was created to promote the produce of the gardens and the land of this part of Salento: eggplants, tomatoes, seasonal vegetables, and freshly picked fruit become the stars of an entirely homemade menu. Now in its twenty-fifth edition, the event is a well-established tradition in the summer calendar of the Municipality of Melendugno and is part of the historical events of the BluFestival, the program of free appointments that enlivens the marinas and hamlets of Melendugno throughout the summer.

Specialties on the table

The true heart of the festival is its village cuisine. Among the food stalls set up in the Villa Comunale, you can taste:

• Eggplant meatballs and 'doppiette' and the classic eggplant parmigiana
• The Borgagne-style focaccia, a local specialty
• Traditional 'ortofrutticola' pasta — orecchiette and maccheroni seasoned with local vegetables
• Pimmitori scattarisciati (pan-sautéed tomatoes), bites, and bruschetta with anchovies and ricotta forte
• Grilled meat and pezzetti di cavallo (horse meat stew), a staple of Salento cuisine
• Seasonal fruit, traditional spumoni, and local wine

Dance, folklore, and crafts

The Fruit and Vegetable Festival is not just about gastronomy: between one dish and another, the evenings are marked by folk music, folk dance groups, and the Salento pizzica, the essential soundtrack of every village festival in Salento. There are also displays of lace and embroidery that showcase local craftsmanship, in a convivial atmosphere that involves residents and tourists until late at night.

An appointment with rural Salento

Together with other traditional local events such as the Sagra Te lu Purpu and Le Vie del Miele, the Fruit and Vegetable Festival helps make Melendugno a destination capable of attracting thousands of visitors every summer. It is the perfect opportunity to discover an authentic Salento, far from the crowds of the most famous beaches, amidst genuine flavors, village hospitality, and the rural traditions of Borgagne.