Madonna del Rosario Fair

One of the oldest fairs in Salento

The Madonna del Rosario Fair is an event that has been held for generations in Giurdignano, a small town in the province of Lecce in the heart of Salento. Originally a mercantile fair linked to the religious feast in honor of the Madonna del Rosario, it is considered one of the oldest popular gatherings in the entire province: it has been held for decades and attracts locals, curious visitors, and travelers from neighboring towns every year. The event traditionally takes place on the first weekend of October, when the Salento countryside enters the season of the late grape harvest and the first days of autumn.

The peasant pork, the true star

Visitors arriving in Giurdignano during these days will immediately understand: the fair is above all a great celebration of taste, and at the center of it all is the peasant pork. In the numerous stalls set up around Largo Madonna del Rosario, the meat is offered in all its forms: boiled, grilled, and especially cooked with wild chicory, the simple, identity-defining dish that locals affectionately call by its traditional rural names. There is also no shortage of porchetta scented with herbs, to be enjoyed while sitting at outdoor tables amidst the chatter of the crowd.

The livestock and agricultural tool fair

Alongside the gastronomic aspect, the most authentic soul of the event survives: the livestock and agricultural tool fair, which brings the town streets to life on Sunday morning and is remembered as one of the largest in Salento. It is the moment when the Giurdignano of today reconnects with its history as a rural community, among stalls, local products, and a farmers' market.

Salento folk music and tradition

The evenings light up with Salento folk music: pizzica, folk, and liscio accompany the dancing in the square until late at night, with local bands and orchestras getting families gathered for the occasion out on the dance floor. It is the timeless formula of Apulian village festivals, where the sacred and the profane coexist naturally.

Giurdignano, the megalithic garden of Salento

The festival also has roots in the extraordinary history of this village: Giurdignano is famous as the megalithic garden of Salento, boasting one of the highest concentrations of dolmens and menhirs in Europe. Many of these ancient monuments were Christianized over the centuries, and the very devotion to the Madonna del Rosario testifies to that continuity between pagan cults and Christian faith that makes this corner of Puglia unique. Participating in the fair is therefore also an opportunity to discover a territory where prehistory, rural tradition, and spirituality intertwine.

2026 Edition

The official dates for the 2026 edition have not yet been announced by the organizers. As per tradition, the fair is expected to return on the first weekend of October, with the usual formula of food stalls, a livestock fair, and evenings of folk music. The detailed program will be published by the Municipality of Giurdignano and the Pro Loco in the weeks leading up to the event.