Laterza Roast Festival

The grilled meat festival in the heart of the Murgia

The Laterza Roast Festival is one of the most beloved gastronomic events of the summer in the Province of Taranto. Every year, on the first Sunday of August, the historic center of Laterza fills with people and mouth-watering scents. From the early evening, local butchers ignite their grills along the town streets, making charcoal-grilled meat the true star of the night. The event winds from Via Roma to Vico Balbo, turning an entire neighborhood into a journey of flavor, music, and folk tradition.

A tradition of local master butchers

The festival is organized by the Laterza Butchers' Association, with the support of the municipal administration and the Council of Associations. The town's butchers, guardians of a craft passed down through generations, prepare the roast using ancient local techniques. This is why the festival is much more than a food event: it is a celebration of artisanal knowledge rooted in the pastoral culture of the Murgia and Laterza's historic dedication to meat processing.

The specialties: zampini, gnumaredd, callaredda, and roasts

The main attractions of the evening are the highly sought-after zampini, gnumaredd, and sausages, cooked over charcoal. Alongside them, other local traditional dishes take center stage:

• Callaredda, a unique dish made with meat and wild chicory;
• Braciole and stuffed horse meat rolls;
• Baked lamb with potatoes;
• Grilled meat served with homemade bread and local cheeses, all washed down with local wine.

The gnumaredd (lamb offal wrapped in intestines and seasoned with parsley and thyme) are a symbol of Puglian peasant cuisine and one of the reasons the festival attracts thousands of visitors every year.

Music, pizzica, and street performers

The Roast Festival is about more than just food and wine. The evenings are enlivened by live music, pizzica dance groups, street performers, shows for all ages, children's entertainment, and DJ sets that keep the younger crowd dancing until late at night. Along the route, there is no shortage of local craft stalls, which complement the food stands and complete the festive village atmosphere.

Where and when

The festival takes place in the historic center of Laterza, a town in the Taranto Murgia bordering Basilicata, famous for its deep ravine and ancient majolica tradition. The event is traditionally held on the first Sunday of August, starting in the evening. Entry to the festival streets is free; you only pay for what you choose to eat at the individual stands.