Patronal Feast of Saints Peter and Paul
The patronal feast of Galatina, in the heart of Salento and the land of tarantism
About Feast of Saints Peter and Paul
Three days of faith and celebration in the heart of Salento
The Patronal Feast of Saints Peter and Paul is the most important celebration in Galatina, a city in the Province of Lecce, nestled in the heart of Salento and Puglia. Every year, during the final days of June, the historic center transforms into a grand open-air stage where religious devotion, community identity, and entertainment merge into a single, intense collective experience. Piazza San Pietro, Piazza Alighieri, and the surrounding streets light up with traditional illuminations and host processions, concerts, and cultural events.
Galatina and the ritual of tarantism
Galatina holds a unique place in the cultural history of Southern Italy as the symbolic site of tarantism. The Chapel of Saint Paul, overlooking Piazza San Pietro, was the destination for the tarantate—women who, according to popular tradition, sought healing from the bite of the 'taranta' spider precisely on the feast day of Saint Paul, June 29th. This deep bond between the patronal feast and the cult of the taranta makes the Galatina event distinct from any other in Salento: alongside liturgical celebrations, the program features the re-enactment of the ancient ritual, pizzica dance, and traditional Salento folk music.
Music, processions, and entertainment
The program balances two souls. On one hand, the solemn moments: Holy Mass, the Solemn Procession with the statues of the Patron Saints winding through the city streets accompanied by brass bands, and celebrations presided over by the Archbishop. On the other, popular entertainment, with concerts ranging from pizzica to major Italian pop stars, tribute bands, youth orchestras, and the traditional fireworks displays that close the evenings.
Exhibitions, culture, and tradition
The festival is not just music and liturgy. Historic palaces in the center—such as Palazzo Gorgoni and the Pietro Cavoti Civic Museum—host exhibitions, conferences, and reviews dedicated to tarantism and local identity. Artistic light displays, market stalls, and the fair complete the atmosphere, drawing visitors to Galatina from all over Salento and Puglia.
A defining community event
Organized by the parish community together with the Galatina Municipal Administration and the Festival Volunteer Group, the celebration of Saints Peter and Paul is much more than a religious anniversary: it is the moment when the entire city reaffirms its roots, between the sacred and the profane, memory and the future.
Feast of Saints Peter and Paul — edition 2026
2026 Edition
Presented at Palazzo Orsini, the 2026 edition of the Patronal Feast of Saints Peter and Paul brought Galatina to life from June 28 to 30 with a program rich in faith, culture, and great music. On the evening of June 28, the eve of the feast, the concelebrated Holy Mass was followed by the Solemn Procession with the statues of the Patron Saints, accompanied by the Galatina City Wind Orchestra; on the stage in Piazza Alighieri, Officina Zoè and Tarantarte performed Salento pizzica, while the Scazzacatarante group performed in Piazza San Pietro.
On June 29, the feast day of the Patron Saints, liturgical celebrations took place, including the solemn mass presided over by the Archbishop, followed by the evocative re-enactment of the ancient tarantism ritual. In the evening, Palasport (a Pooh tribute band), the Animo Band, and the Gambling Band entertained the city squares.
The grand finale on June 30 featured a free concert by Noemi in Piazza Alighieri, accompanied by the Giovanni Pascoli Youth Orchestra and Jonica Popolare. The program was completed by exhibitions at Palazzo Gorgoni and the Cavoti Civic Museum, the cultural micro-festival "Piacere, San Paolo," and artistic light displays.
Programme Feast of Saints Peter and Paul 2026
2026 Program
- June 28 — 7:00 PM Holy Mass; 8:10 PM Solemn Procession with the statues of the Saints; 10:00 PM Officina Zoè and Tarantarte (Piazza Alighieri); 11:30 PM Scazzacatarante (Piazza San Pietro)
- June 29 — Liturgical celebrations (solemn mass with the Archbishop at 9:30 AM); re-enactment of the ancient tarantism ritual; 7:00 PM Animo Band; 9:30 PM Palasport – Pooh Official Tribute Band (Piazza Alighieri); 10:30 PM Gambling Band (Piazza San Pietro)
- June 30 — 9:00 PM Giovanni Pascoli Youth Orchestra; 10:00 PM Noemi concert (Piazza Alighieri); 10:30 PM Jonica Popolare (Piazza San Pietro)
Highlights Feast of Saints Peter and Paul 2026
- Free concert by Noemi in Piazza Alighieri (June 30)
- Solemn Procession with the statues of the Patron Saints
- Re-enactment of the ancient tarantism ritual
- Salento pizzica with Officina Zoè and Tarantarte
- Artistic light displays and fireworks
Prices Feast of Saints Peter and Paul 2026
Practical information — Feast of Saints Peter and Paul
How to get there
Galatina is located in Salento, about 20 km from Lecce. By car, it can be reached via the SS 101 Lecce-Gallipoli road. By train, the city is served by the Galatina station on the Ferrovie del Sud Est line. The nearest airport is Brindisi-Salento, approximately 60 km away.
Admission and hours
Religious celebrations and events in the squares are free to attend. Concerts take place in the evening, primarily in Piazza Alighieri and Piazza San Pietro. The festival is held at the end of June, around June 29th, the feast day of Saints Peter and Paul.
Tips
During the festival, the historic center is largely pedestrianized; it is advisable to park in the outer areas. Do not miss a visit to the Basilica of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, a masterpiece of Salento Gothic architecture, and the Chapel of Saint Paul.
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Where does it take place — Feast of Saints Peter and Paul
Centro storico (Piazza San Pietro, Piazza Alighieri)