Pizzarello Festival

The Pizzarello Festival in Terlizzi

In the heart of the Terra di Bari, the town of Terlizzi dedicates an entire evening to its most beloved baked good: the pizzarello. The Pizzarello Festival is a culinary event that brings flavors, conviviality, and the identity of a Puglian community deeply rooted in its traditions to the town square.

What is a pizzarello?

The Terlizzi pizzarello is a type of elongated focaccia, easily recognized by the three cherry tomatoes pressed into each side. Unlike in neighboring towns like Molfetta and Giovinazzo, where it is associated with Holy Week, in Terlizzi it is enjoyed year-round, with a special preference for Friday nights: it is an essential ritual in the city's bakeries. Made with remilled semolina, sourdough, olive oil, cherry tomatoes, oregano, and a touch of boiled potato for softness, it is often stuffed with mortadella and provolone, or other cured meats, cheeses, artichoke cream, olives, and oil-preserved eggplants. It is considered a modern version of the Quartecèdde, an ancient tradition linked to the commemoration of the dead on November 2nd.

An evening of taste and community

The festival turns the pizzarello into the absolute star of an open-air evening: tastings at various stands, live music, and the simple, welcoming atmosphere typical of local village feasts. The event attracts both residents and visitors eager to rediscover an authentic taste of Puglia, accompanied by the warm hospitality of the Terlizzi community.

In the heart of Summer in Terlizzi

The event is part of the rich Estate a Terlizzi (Summer in Terlizzi) program, which offers over forty events between June and September, spanning culture, music, theater, cinema, sports, and tradition. The Pizzarello Festival also serves as a lead-up to the Festa Maggiore, the civil and religious solemnity in honor of Maria Santissima di Sovereto, which culminates in August with the procession of the Triumphal Chariot through the city streets.

Terlizzi, city of flowers and flavors

Located in the province of Bari, in the Puglia region, Terlizzi is known for its floriculture and a heritage of vibrant popular traditions. The Pizzarello Festival is the perfect opportunity to combine a stroll through the historic center with the discovery of one of the territory's most iconic products.