Pettola and Panzerotto Festival – Feast of Saint Lucy

A festival of devotion and winter flavors

The Pettola and Panzerotto Festival is the warmest highlight of December in Terlizzi. It takes place in Piazza Cavour, right in front of the San Gioacchino parish, to mark the Feast of Saint Lucy. In Terlizzi, a town in the Metropolitan City of Bari, Puglia, the commemoration of the patron saint of sight has long been intertwined with one of the most evocative winter traditions in the region: the Saint Lucy bonfire, a large fire lit in the square that recalls the ancient bond between light, purification, and community.

The bonfire, pettole, and panzerotti

Around the bonfire, the town center comes alive with stalls, the scent of frying food, and free tastings. The stars of the first evening are the pettole—small, freshly fried balls of leavened dough, served sweet or savory—a staple of the Puglian Christmas. On the evening of the liturgical feast, it is the turn of the panzerotti, the iconic fried dough pockets filled with tomato and mozzarella that symbolize popular Puglian cuisine. Live music and entertainment accompany the food distribution, creating a festive atmosphere open to families and visitors of all ages.

Faith and community

The religious dimension remains central: Holy Masses in honor of Saint Lucy are celebrated in the San Gioacchino parish, with the participation of the community and, in some years, visiting bishops from the Diocese of Molfetta-Ruvo-Giovinazzo-Terlizzi. The small chapel dedicated to the saint is opened to the faithful. The initiative, promoted by the San Gioacchino Parish with the patronage of the Municipality of Terlizzi, traditionally marks the start of the Christmas festivities in the city.

A popular event with free admission

The festival is free to attend and is held in the heart of Terlizzi, easily accessible on foot from the center. It is a wonderful opportunity to rediscover the authentic flavors of the Murgia tradition and to experience one of the most anticipated evenings of the local winter calendar together around the bonfire.