Night of Culture and Taste

A night of culture and flavors in the heart of Salento

The Night of Culture and Taste is one of the most anticipated summer events in Ugento, an elegant town in the Province of Lecce, in lower Salento. Every late August, the historic center lights up and transforms into a large, widespread stage: alleys, courtyards, squares, and historic palaces become open-air settings where culture, history, music, and gastronomy merge into a single experiential path.

A journey through history and identity

The project was born with the goal of enhancing the historical and cultural heritage of Ugento, a village with ancient roots overlooking the Ionian Sea. During the evening, extraordinary evening openings of cultural sites and guided tours in the historic center are scheduled, allowing residents and visitors to rediscover churches, palaces, and suggestive corners of the city in a new light, enriched by artistic light installations.

Folk music and Salento atmosphere

The soundtrack of the Night ranges across different genres, from folk music to pizzica, with moments that animate squares and courtyards until late at night. There is no shortage of dance lessons and opportunities to experience the overwhelming rhythm of the Salento tradition firsthand, which makes every edition a collective and participatory festival.

The flavors of Puglia

Taste is the absolute protagonist: the event hosts numerous local wineries (about twenty in previous editions), with wine and liqueur tastings, mixology workshops, typical products, traditional sweets, and street food offerings. A food and wine itinerary that enhances Apulian excellence and the deep bond between the community and its land.

A local event

The Night of Culture and Taste is promoted by the Municipality of Ugento in collaboration with local associations and entities, with the support of the Puglia Region and its Department for Economic Development. The event is part of the summer calendar initiatives of the city, which has been awarded the Blue Flag, and represents an ideal opportunity to discover Ugento and Salento away from the most crowded circuits, immersed in an authentic and welcoming atmosphere.