Canti di Passione – Ce Custi o Gaddho na Cantalisi
Sacred Holy Week chants arrive in Martignano, the smallest Griko village in Grecìa Salentina
About Canti di Passione
A festival of sacred Holy Week chants
The Canti di Passione – Ce Custi o Gaddho na Cantalisi ("and the rooster was heard singing") is a traveling festival dedicated to the sacred and devotional chants of Holy Week. Each spring, it winds through the villages of Grecìa Salentina, in the province of Lecce, Puglia. The title, in the Griko language, evokes the crowing of the rooster that marks the story of the Passion, according to the Greek-influenced tradition of this corner of Salento, where the Hellenic-rooted dialect still survives. The event is promoted by the Union of Municipalities of Grecìa Salentina, with artistic direction by Antonio Melegari, supported by the La Notte della Taranta Foundation, and in collaboration with the "Diego Carpitella" Institute of Mediterranean Cultures and the Province of Lecce. The festival spans nearly two weeks, featuring about fifteen events and over three hundred and fifty participating artists.
The final stop in Martignano
The Municipality of Martignano, the smallest Griko village in Grecìa Salentina, hosts the final day of the festival. Here, the tradition of passion chants retains its itinerant and mendicant nature: in the morning, the Cantori di Martignano, together with the Compagnia Arakne Mediterranea, bring the "Passiùna tu Cristù" into the homes of the elderly and local schools. In the evening, the entire community gathers on the churchyard of the Church of Santa Maria dei Martiri, in Piazza della Repubblica. From there, the secular procession begins, accompanying the singing of "Lu Santu Lazzaru" to Piazza Palmieri, the heart of the village.
Griko music, rituals, and memory
The festival was born from the desire to preserve an ancient intangible heritage: the chants performed by the cantori (singers) of Salento during Lent and Holy Week, passed down orally from generation to generation. In Martignano, groups and families of singers who are guardians of this memory—such as the Giagnotti family, the Greco family, and the Cantori della Bottega del Teatro di Zollino—perform alongside artists who blend song, theater, and storytelling. The day also includes a guided tour to discover the historic center, organized by the Parco Turistico Culturale Palmieri.
- Itinerant "Passiùna tu Cristù" performances in the homes of the elderly;
- School performances to pass the tradition on to the younger generation;
- Guided tour of the historic center and landmarks of Martignano;
- Singing of "Lu Santu Lazzaru" and secular procession to Piazza Palmieri;
- Free admission to all events.
A defining event for Martignano and Puglia
For the Municipality of Martignano and the entire Grecìa Salentina, the Canti di Passione represent a moment of deep cultural and spiritual identity. The festival weaves the religious heritage of Holy Week with the ethnomusical richness of the territory and the Griko language, offering residents and visitors an authentic experience of listening and reflection among the courtyards, churches, and squares of Salento. Admission to all events is free.
Canti di Passione — edition 2026
The final stage of the 2026 edition took place in Martignano on Wednesday, April 1st, closing the festival promoted by the Union of Municipalities of Grecìa Salentina under the artistic direction of Antonio Melegari.
The day began in the morning, between 9:30 AM and 12:00 PM, with the Cantori di Martignano and the Compagnia Arakne Mediterranea bringing the "Passiùna tu Cristù" into the homes of the elderly, following the ancient itinerant and mendicant nature of the tradition. At noon, the performance moved to the local Primary and Middle School. In the afternoon, from 5:30 PM, a guided tour organized by the Parco Turistico Culturale Palmieri led visitors through the village's churches, frescoes, and historic palaces. In the evening, at 7:30 PM, on the churchyard of the Church of Santa Maria dei Martiri in Piazza della Repubblica, families and groups of singers performed "Lu Santu Lazzaru" (led by the Giagnotti family), followed by a secular procession to Piazza Palmieri and a choral finale with the Lausanne Choir.
Programme Canti di Passione 2026
Wednesday, April 1st, 2026 — Martignano
- 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM — Homes of the elderly: The Cantori di Martignano and Compagnia Arakne Mediterranea perform the "Passiùna tu Cristù" (in Griko) from courtyard to courtyard, following the mendicant tradition.
- 12:00 PM — Primary and Middle School: Performance and educational session on local traditions.
- 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM — Meeting point at Piazza Palmieri: Guided tour by the Parco Turistico Culturale Palmieri through churches, frescoes, and historic palaces (free admission upon reservation, tel. +39 389 5544424).
- 7:30 PM — Churchyard of the Church of Santa Maria dei Martiri (Piazza della Repubblica): Performances by the singers and "Lu Santu Lazzaru" by the Giagnotti family, secular procession to Piazza Palmieri, and choral finale with the Lausanne Choir.
Featured artists: Cantori di Martignano, Compagnia Arakne Mediterranea, Giagnotti family, Greco family, Avleddha, Stella Grande, Cantori della Bottega del Teatro di Zollino, and the Lausanne Choir.
Highlights Canti di Passione 2026
- "Passiùna tu Cristù" quest in Griko in the homes of the elderly
- Guided tour of the historic center by the Parco Palmieri
- "Lu Santu Lazzaru" by the Giagnotti family on the churchyard of the Church of Santa Maria dei Martiri
- Secular procession to Piazza Palmieri with the Lausanne Choir
Prices Canti di Passione 2026
Practical information — Canti di Passione
Getting there
Martignano is located in the heart of Grecìa Salentina, in the province of Lecce. By car, it can be reached via the provincial roads connecting Lecce, Calimera, and Martano. The local train station is served by the Ferrovie del Sud Est. The nearest airports are Brindisi and Bari.
Admission
Participation in all events is free. The program runs throughout the day, from morning to evening, starting from the historic center and concluding in Piazza Palmieri. Reservations are required for the guided tour by calling +39 389 5544424.
Tips
We recommend wearing comfortable shoes for walking through the village and clothing suitable for spring evenings. For updated information, please check the official festival website.
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Where does it take place — Canti di Passione
Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Martiri, Piazza della Repubblica e Piazza Palmieri