I Fanòve and Festivities of Maria SS. della Vetrana (The Days of Fire)

A night of fire for the Madonna della Vetrana

In the heart of winter, when the evenings grow long and cold, Castellana Grotte—a town in the Province of Bari, nestled in the Murgia dei Trulli—transforms into a city of flames. This is the time of I Fanòve, the imposing wood pyres erected in every district and set ablaze on the night of January 11th to pierce the darkness and fulfill a centuries-old vow to the Madonna della Vetrana, the town's patron saint.

The tradition dates back to 1691: according to popular devotion, it was the intercession of the Virgin of Vetrana that saved Castellana from the devastating plague that ravaged the southeast of the Bari region between December 1690 and January 1691. Since then, every year, the people of Castellana renew their gratitude with fire: the torches burn continuously from the first evening until the following morning, a promise kept from generation to generation. In 2026, the community celebrates the 335th anniversary of that liberation.

"The Days of Fire": more than just a single night

The Fanòve are the highlight of an entire calendar of events that the Patronal Feast Committee, with the support of the Municipality of Castellana Grotte, hosts throughout January under the title "I Giorni del Fuoco". It is a journey that blends faith, historical memory, and spectacle:

• The Diana — the evocative nocturnal procession that, before dawn, visits local olive mills to collect the oil used to fuel the Virgin's votive lamp at the Sanctuary, accompanied by the town band.
• Historical re-enactments — the "Ab Origine" project, which brings to life the drama of the plague and the birth of the Vetrana cult.
• In the wake of the Fanòve — a popular walk that combines sport, landscape, and devotion.
• The Patronal Feast of January 12th — featuring a solemn procession and a fireworks display that brings the night of fire to a spectacular close.

Part of the Puglia Fire Network

The Fanòve of Castellana Grotte are part of the Puglia Fire Network, a circuit that brings together the great winter fire rituals of the region. It is one of the most authentic expressions of Puglian popular culture: not an event staged for tourists, but a collective liturgy that involves entire neighborhoods in gathering wood, building the pyres, and keeping watch around the flames. The lighting of the first fanòva in Largo San Francesco is broadcast live on Canale 7 and streamed online, a sign of how deeply this night belongs to the identity of Castellana.

Attending the Fanòve means immersing yourself in a unique atmosphere: the crackling of the wood, the warmth radiating through the historic center, the sound of the band accompanying the torchlight procession, and faces illuminated by the red glow of the flames. It is an experience that tells the story of the ancient soul of this corner of Puglia better than any words could.