Pizzica in Festa – Salento Flavors Festival

Pizzica in Festa in Sternatia

Pizzica in Festa – Salento Flavors Festival is one of the longest-running summer events in Sternatia, a small town in the Province of Lecce, Apulia, nestled in the heart of Grecìa Salentina. Established around the year 2000 and now in its twentieth edition, the festival is organized by the Pro Loco of Sternatia with the patronage of the Municipality and is traditionally held in July over three nights in the green spaces of the Villa Comunale.

Pizzica and Grecìa Salentina

Sternatia is one of the towns where Griko, the ancient Greek-origin language of the Salento linguistic minority, is still preserved. In this unique cultural context, pizzica is not just a performance but a living memory: at dusk, the Villa Comunale transforms into a collective threshing floor where the driving rhythm of tambourines guides traditional dances and involves visitors of all ages. It is an immersion into the roots of Salento, among taranta, folk songs, and dances that last until late at night.

Live Folk Music

The heart of the festival is the Salento folk music stage. Over the years, Pizzica in Festa has hosted leading names on the scene such as Antonio Castrignanò and numerous Salento folk ensembles — from Compagnia Aria Corte to groups like Tammurria, Asteria, Kamafei, and Fabbrica Folk — alongside young emerging local talent. Evenings generally start early and continue with multiple sets, alternating concerts, pizzica circles, and shared dance moments.

The Flavors of Salento

Alongside the music, the event is also a true gastronomic festival. The Pro Loco stalls offer specialties of Salento and Griko cuisine: the characteristic 'pizzicata' bruschetta, the rustic platter, the typical aspri-ce-mavri (white and black friselle), plammi, souvlaki, the essential pittule, and the sweet pasticciotto from Lecce, all accompanied by local wines such as Negroamaro and Primitivo. There are also spaces dedicated to local crafts, with displays of ceramics and Salento artifacts.

An Event for Everyone

With free admission, Pizzica in Festa is designed as a community celebration open to curious visitors, families, and folk music enthusiasts. For those visiting Grecìa Salentina in summer, it represents an opportunity to discover Sternatia, its historic center, and its traditions, combining the discovery of Griko cultural heritage with the taste of typical Salento flavors.