Focara di San Lorenzo del Terremoto

The bonfire that unites the community

In the heart of the Salento region, every January 19th, the town of Lizzanello (Province of Lecce, Apulia) celebrates the Patronage of Saint Lawrence with its most defining tradition: the Focara di San Lorenzo del Terremoto. While not as famous as the Apulian bonfire in Novoli dedicated to Saint Anthony the Abbot, this is considered the other Salento bonfire—a grand pyre lit in the municipal market area as a symbol of gratitude and shared history.

The origins: the miracle of the earthquake

January 19th marks the patronage of Saint Lawrence the Martyr, patron saint of Lizzanello, on the day when—according to local lore—a violent earthquake struck the Salento peninsula in the 19th century, yet spared the town. On that freezing night, residents poured into the streets to escape collapsing homes and lit makeshift fires to protect themselves from the biting cold. From those fires, the evocative Focara di San Lorenzo del Terremoto was born, a great bonfire rekindled every year in thanksgiving for the danger averted. As the local clergy remind us, "the fire ritual" commemorates the survival of the earthquake.

A tradition saved by the youth

The bonfire was at risk of disappearing, but it has been revived through the dedication of the younger generations. The event is organized by the Lycianellum Association with the patronage of the municipal administration and the collaboration of the Paladini Association volunteers and other local entities. "Our bonfire was at risk of fading away, but we young people have reclaimed it with great commitment because we believe in the value of our traditions," the organizers explain.

How the festival unfolds

The celebration opens with a three-day preparation period in the Maria Santissima Addolorata parish church, featuring the rosary, vespers, and the traditional blessing of domestic animals (coinciding with the feast of Saint Anthony the Abbot). On January 19th, following Holy Mass and a procession through the town streets accompanied by a marching band, the most anticipated moment arrives: the pyromusical lighting of the bonfire in the market square, complete with fireworks and music, followed by an evening DJ set that extends the festivities at the bonfire site.

The fire festivals of Salento

The Lizzanello bonfire is part of the winter fire festivals of Salento, a heritage of rituals that light up towns between January and February. Around these events, an initiative—proposed by the town of Melendugno—has emerged to create a network for off-season tourism, showcasing the authentic Salento even outside the summer months.