Caroseno Fair and Market

The Caroseno Fair and Market in Castellana Grotte

Every year on September 8th, Castellana Grotte (Metropolitan City of Bari, Puglia) renews one of its most cherished traditions: the Caroseno Fair and Market, celebrated alongside the Feast of Maria Santissima del Caroseno. It is one of the oldest fairs in the Bari province, documented since 1692, and ranks as the town's second most significant celebration after the one dedicated to Maria SS. della Vetrana, the town's patron saint.

Faith and tradition since 1692

The event stems from popular devotion to the Madonna del Caroseno, venerated as the protector of expectant mothers in the parish church of the same name, a 16th-century building featuring an 18th-century Baroque facade. The religious festivities culminate in a solemn evening procession that travels through the town center, accompanied by the faithful and the local marching band.

The market and the city streets

The fair transforms the heart of Castellana Grotte into a vast open-air space: stalls and vendors occupy Piazza Garibaldi, Via Roma, Piazza Nicola e Costa, Corso Italia, Viale Aldo Moro, and the streets surrounding the Tacconi municipal park (Via Giotto, Via Papa Pio XII, Via Francesco dell'Erba). Visitors will find local products, handicrafts, household goods, and a wide variety of merchandise in a setting that combines centuries-old commerce with a festive atmosphere.

The Chicken and Rabbit Festival

Historically linked to the Caroseno celebrations is the Chicken, Rabbit, and Grilled Meat Festival, one of the longest-running in Puglia, featuring tastings of poultry and meats prepared by local butchers. A unique highlight of the festival is the famous "Satirical Window Displays" competition, where elaborately dressed poultry are used to ironically mock local political and administrative figures. The event also features live music in the squares and a vibrant atmosphere that enlivens the entire town.

Bridging the sacred and the profane, the Caroseno Fair and Market remains a vital part of the identity of Castellana Grotte, a town also famous throughout Puglia for its renowned Grotte di Castellana: an opportunity to experience the town at its most authentic and lively.