Le Focareddhe (Saint Anthony Abbot)

The 2025 Focareddha

The 2025 edition of the Gallipoli Focareddhe was scheduled for Friday, January 17th, the feast of Saint Anthony Abbot, but bad weather forced a postponement: the lighting of the large bonfire took place on Sunday, January 19th at 5:00 PM on Via Zacà, in the heart of the historic center. The pyre was composed, according to tradition, of wood gathered from the fields in honor of the saint of fire.

The evening was enlivened by live folk music from the Salento group I Trainanti, five musicians dedicated to the pizzica using traditional instruments. The event, organized by the Department of Tourism and Entertainment of the Municipality of Gallipoli in collaboration with La Fabbrica del Carnevale, inaugurated the calendar of the Historic Carnival 2025 and was part of the festivities for the patron saint, Saint Sebastian, celebrated on January 20th.

Sunday, January 19, 2025, 5:00 PM — Via Zacà (historic center)

• Lighting of the focareddha, the large wood bonfire in honor of Saint Anthony Abbot
• Live musical entertainment with the Salento group I Trainanti (pizzica and folk music)

Following this, the city calendar included the festivities for the patron saint, Saint Sebastian (January 19-20), with processions and solemn masses.