Government Fair of Saint Francis of Paola

A fair with nearly two centuries of history

The Government Fair of Saint Francis of Paola is one of the most deeply rooted events in the calendar of Veglie, a town in the Province of Lecce, in the heart of Salento and Puglia. The fair was established by royal decree of Ferdinand II on January 28, 1834, and has been renewed every year since, at the beginning of summer, during the civil and religious celebrations in honor of the saint. In 2026, the event reached its 191st edition, a testament to an almost uninterrupted continuity that has its roots in the ancient history of the Veglie community.

Festivities in honor of Saint Francis of Paola

The most intense moment is the solemn procession with the statue of Saint Francis of Paola, which travels through the town streets accompanied by the "Antonio Regno" Band Association of the City of Veglie. The celebration combines the devotional dimension—the solemn Holy Mass in the Mother Church and the religious procession through the center—with the civil aspect, featuring the official inauguration of the fair in the presence of civil, military, and religious authorities.

Between sacred and profane: music and stalls

Alongside the religious rites, the festival comes alive with music and street life. Evening concerts take place in Largo Calvario, while Via Calvario and the surrounding streets fill with the traditional market stalls, offering local products, handicrafts, and all kinds of goods. Local merchants also organize dedicated initiatives, transforming the district into a lively open-air market for the duration of the festivities.

A popular Salento tradition

For Veglie, the Government Fair represents an identity-defining event that goes beyond a simple patronal feast: it is the living memory of a privilege granted nearly two centuries ago, a collective ritual that every June draws residents, returning emigrants, and visitors from neighboring towns. In a territory like Salento, rich in food festivals and patronal feasts, the Veglie fair maintains an authentic character, where devotion to Saint Francis of Paola blends with social life, commerce, and the music of local brass bands.