Piacere, San Paolo

A micro-festival to rediscover Saint Paul

"Piacere, San Paolo" is a widespread micro-festival held in Galatina, a city in the province of Lecce in the heart of Salento, Puglia. Created to highlight the figure of Saint Paul—the city's co-patron alongside Saint Peter, though long less celebrated than his counterpart—the festival accompanies the community in the weeks leading up to the grand Patronal Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, traditionally celebrated at the end of June.

The format consists of evening gatherings hosted in the charming small square adjacent to the Church of Saints Peter and Paul. Each session lasts about fifty minutes and is divided into two parts: first, the retelling of an episode from the life of Saint Paul, reinterpreted with modern language, followed by an interview with a guest capable of weaving together spirituality, life experiences, and reflections on contemporary issues.

The link with tarantism and Salento tradition

The choice to dedicate a festival to Saint Paul is no coincidence: in Galatina, the saint's figure is deeply rooted in the popular culture of tarantism, the phenomenon where those bitten by the "taranta" spider sought healing in the Chapel of Saint Paul. The micro-festival recovers this identity-defining heritage and reinterprets it in a contemporary key, fostering a dialogue between faith, memory, and society.

A journey in stages

Each edition is built around a central theme and a series of six appointments, defined as "inspirational incursions." The guests—musicians, writers, illustrators, social activists, and professionals—offer diverse perspectives on the series' common thread, in an atmosphere of community and open-air sharing.

Conception and organization

The micro-festival was conceived by Father Lucio Greco, with creative direction and hosting by Barbara Perrone and co-hosting by Father Tiziano Galati, who curates the storytelling regarding Saint Paul. The initiative is supported by the City of Galatina and the Pastoral Office for Leisure, Tourism, Sport, and Pilgrimages of the Archdiocese of Otranto.

Why attend

• Free, open-air evening meetings in the historic center of Galatina
• A unique way to experience the lead-up to the Patronal Feast of Saints Peter and Paul
• Prominent guests from the worlds of culture, music, and social activism
• A bridge between Salento tradition, spirituality, and current affairs