Massafra in the Middle Ages: The Night of the Masciari

The night Massafra returns to the Middle Ages

When darkness falls over the historic center of Massafra, in the province of Taranto, the Rione dei Masciari — also known as the Rione degli Ostinati — lights up with torches and tales. Massafra in the Middle Ages: The Night of the Masciari is a nocturnal historical re-enactment that brings the atmosphere of an Apulian medieval village back to life, amidst alleys, ravines, and small squares of the city's ancient core.

Who were the Masciari

The event's name is rooted in an ancient local tradition. The Masciari were healers, wizards, and herbalists who, according to popular memory, lived in Massafra and knew the secrets of the medicinal plants of the Gravina della Madonna della Scala. Legend tells of the Wizard Greguro and his daughter Margherita, who was accused of witchcraft and saved by Abbot Anselmo: a story of magic, superstition, and faith that still sets the tone for the entire event today.

What to see along the route

The evening is conceived as a true immersive living history show: performers populate the narrow streets of the district and guide the visitor on a journey through time. Along the route, you will encounter:

• Wizards, holy men, and fortune tellers who read the future and prepare love, luck, and wealth potions;
• Jesters, actors, and stilt-walkers who bring the squares and corners of the village to life;
• Falconers with their birds of prey;
• Hunchbacks, guides, and other characters from medieval tradition.

The district's taverns and street food

One of the most beloved aspects is the transformation of the neighborhood's restaurants into taverns and inns: the local businesses reopen their doors and offer street food inspired by popular Apulian gastronomy, allowing you to enjoy traditional dishes while strolling between performances. It is the moment when the promotion of historical heritage intertwines with that of local flavors.

An identity-defining event for the historic center

Organized with the involvement of the Pro Loco Città di Massafra, local associations, and with the support of the Municipality of Massafra and the Apulia Region, the event was created to enhance the historic center and its identity, breathing life back into the streets of the district and creating new opportunities for gathering. The Night of the Masciari is now one of the most evocative appointments in the Massafra autumn calendar, capable of combining culture, entertainment, and tradition in a single evening under the stars of the Tarentine Murgia.