Candelora Fair

The 2025 edition of the Candelora Fair took place in Specchia, in the province of Lecce, on February 2nd, in keeping with the centuries-old custom. The day combined the religious rites of the Presentation at the Temple—Holy Masses, blessing of the candles, and the procession from the Church of the Madonna Assunta to the Mother Church—with the traditional market fair in Piazza del Popolo and along the streets of the historic center.

The stalls offered clothing, footwear, food, household utensils, and agricultural equipment, along with typical local products such as pestanache. The event confirmed the role of Specchia, one of Italy's Most Beautiful Villages, as a guardian of a tradition that continues to attract audiences from all over lower Salento.