Fo'cra di San Ciro - Patronal Feast of Saint Ciro

The fire of devotion in Grottaglie

Every year, at the end of January, the town of Grottaglie, in the heart of the Taranto province and the Puglia region, celebrates its patronal feast in honor of Saint Ciro, a physician, hermit, and martyr of Egyptian origin (3rd-4th century), venerated as the co-patron of the so-called 'City of Ceramics' alongside Saint Francesco de Geronimo. The most anticipated and defining moment of these festivities is the Fo'cra (or Foc'ra), a gigantic woodpile ignited as a collective act of faith and thanksgiving.

A wood pyramid as tall as a building

The Fo'cra is a monumental pyramid constructed from olive branches and vine clippings, pruned and brought by local faithful and farmers as a devotional offering. The structure, raised on the large esplanade of Via Pasolini (Zone 167/bis), reaches impressive dimensions: the 2026 edition touched a square base of 32 meters per side and a height of 29 meters, placing it among the largest ritual fires in Europe. A combustion chamber is carved inside, a space that visitors can walk through in the days leading up to the festival, leaving messages, drawings, and prayers for Saint Ciro.

The days of the festival

The ritual culminates on January 30th and 31st. On the evening of the 30th, following the solemn Eucharistic celebration at the Mother Church, the blessing and lighting of the Fo'cra take place: flames rise into the darkness before tens of thousands of spectators in an atmosphere suspended between the sacred and the popular. The following day, the procession of the venerated image of Saint Ciro traverses the main city streets, accompanied by the community and religious authorities of the Archdiocese of Taranto.

Tradition, community, and folklore

Numerous events revolve around the Fo'cra: the Focaredda of the children, a smaller pile dedicated to the little ones; parades of vintage carts and horses laden with branches accompanied by the pizzica salentina; guided tours; food stands with local products; and the lights of the funfair. The event, supported by the Municipality of Grottaglie and the Puglia Region, is recognized within the PACT regional network of ritual fires, which promotes the great fire rites of Puglia.

A ritual to experience in Puglia

Witnessing the lighting of the Fo'cra means immersing yourself in one of the most authentic expressions of popular religiosity in Southern Italy, where devotion to Saint Ciro intertwines with the rural memory of pruning olive trees and vines. It is an event that draws residents, curious onlookers, and visitors from across the Taranto province and beyond to Grottaglie every year.