'mpilla Festival

A celebration of a focaccia worth preserving

The 'mpilla Festival takes place in Chiesanuova, a rural village in the municipality of Sannicola, in the Province of Lecce, in the heart of the Ionian Salento. At the center of the event is the 'mpilla, a rustic focaccia typical of the Sannicola area, officially included in the Ministerial List of Traditional Agri-food Products (PAT) as a specialty tied to local gastronomic history.

What is 'mpilla?

'mpilla is a humble focaccia born in peasant homes, kneaded with simple ingredients from the garden and fields: durum wheat flour, seasonal vegetables like zucchini and onions, tomatoes, capers, black olives, and a generous drizzle of Salento extra virgin olive oil. It is a dish that tells the story of the agricultural civilization of the hinterland, when nothing was wasted and meals were built from what the land offered. The festival was created specifically to protect and pass down this recipe, involving small local producers and farms.

The Parco di Chiesanuova

The festival is held at the Parco di Chiesanuova, in a picturesque landscape of dry-stone walls, olive trees, and countryside that descends gently toward the Ionian Sea. The village, home to only a few hundred inhabitants, clusters around its Church of the Immaculate Conception and becomes, for one summer evening, a meeting point for residents, curious visitors, and travelers seeking the authenticity of Salento away from mass tourism.

Tastings, markets, and activities

The festival program weaves together several aspects of the local territory. There are markets featuring direct sales of agricultural products, dried fruits, wines, oil, and traditional sweets, designed to give visibility to small local producers. There is also a sporting and naturalistic component, with cycling excursions through the countryside—the "between soil and 'mpille" rides organized with Salento cycle-tourism groups—which allow visitors to discover the rural landscape before the evening festivities. The night then comes alive with folk music performances, featuring pizzica, traditional rhythms, and the sounds of Salento.

A bastion of Salento identity

More than just a simple village fair, the 'mpilla Festival is a small cultural stronghold: it promotes an identity-defining product, supports the local agricultural economy, and keeps the bond between the Sannicola community and its countryside alive. For those visiting Salento in the summer, it is an opportunity to savor a piece of peasant tradition in the green heart of the Province of Lecce.