Nonna's Sandwich Festival

The most beloved sandwich festival on the Bari coast

The Nonna's Sandwich Festival is one of the most famous gastronomic events in the Municipality of Giovinazzo, on the Adriatic coast of the Metropolitan City of Bari, in Puglia. For nearly thirty years, every August, the town center fills with aromas and visitors arriving from all over the region to taste the famous cugno, the traditional peasant sandwich that has made Giovinazzo famous far beyond the borders of Puglia.

The 'cugno', king of the festival

The absolute star is the sandwich filled with the genuine ingredients of Puglian peasant cuisine: oil-preserved tomatoes with lampascioni, eggplant, omelet, artichokes, peppers, anchovies, turnip tops, and mortadella. The two most popular sandwiches remain the one with eggplant parmigiana and the one with brasciola, the typical meat roll in tomato sauce. A gluten-free version is also available for those with specific dietary needs.

Music, shows, and markets

The two evenings of the festival are not just about food: Piazzale Salvo D'Acquisto, in the market area, hosts live concerts, DJ sets, comedy shows, and street performers. Completing the atmosphere are the antiques and crafts market and a playground with entertainment for children starting at 6:00 PM, making the event perfect for families as well.

A festival with a charitable heart

Nonna's Sandwich Festival is organized by the association I Nipoti della Nonna Odv and has always maintained a strong charitable vocation: the entire proceeds from the evenings are donated to support numerous solidarity projects. A commitment that, combined with the quality of the product, has attracted the attention of the international press, including a historic visit by BBC journalists in 2012, which cemented the festival's reputation well beyond the local level.

Giovinazzo, a seaside village

The festival is also an opportunity to discover Giovinazzo, one of the most charming seaside villages in the Bari area, with its historic center overlooking the Adriatic, its port, and its Cathedral. Visitors to the event can combine the pleasure of good food with a stroll through the ancient alleys of the town, in an authentic corner of Puglia.