Flag Auction Festival

A five-century-old tradition

The Asta della Bandiera is one of the most defining historical re-enactments in the Salento area of Brindisi, held every spring in San Pietro Vernotico, a town in the province of Brindisi, Puglia. The event brings to life the most significant episode in local history: around 1480, while the Turkish troops of Achmet Pasha were plundering numerous towns in Salento, the local inhabitants were warned in time by lookouts on the tower and organized themselves to repel the assault. The locals defeated the enemy and captured their banner, a trophy that was laid at the feet of Saint Peter the Apostle, the patron saint, as a sign of gratitude for their narrow escape.

The historical pageant

The heart of the day is the grand historical pageant that winds through the center of San Pietro Vernotico. About one hundred costumed figures, many of whom are residents representing the town's districts, march alongside knights, ladies, drummers, and flag-wavers, recreating the atmosphere of the late 15th century. The procession combines faith, memory, and spectacle, involving the entire community and guest groups from neighboring towns.

• The parade by the Cavalieri di Quinzio sports association
• The performance by the Rione Lama di Oria flag-wavers
• The Scapula e fuci drummers
• Costumed performances by local dance schools
• Traditional Salento folk music accompanying the festivities

The flag auction

The highlight of the event is the public auction of the Turkish banner. On the churchyard of the Church of Saint Peter the Apostle, the flag is blessed and put up for auction: bids are placed as participants symbolically ascend the church steps, until the highest bidder wins the right to keep the flag for the coming year. According to tradition, the entire proceeds from the auction are donated to the Patronal Feast Committee to fund the Feast of Saint Peter, celebrated on June 29th. Winning the auction thus becomes an act of devotion and solidarity, as well as a source of neighborhood pride.

San Pietro Vernotico and Puglia

Situated between Brindisi and Lecce, in one of the most vibrant areas of Salento, San Pietro Vernotico preserves a precious piece of its Puglian identity through this re-enactment. The Asta della Bandiera is simultaneously a historical memory, a religious event, and a grand street festival: an opportunity to discover the region's folk traditions, period costumes, and the warmth of a community that gathers every year to pay homage to its past.