Rerum Rubis – Carafa and the Legend

A festival that weaves together history, memory, and legend

Rerum Rubis – Carafa and the Legend is the premier historical and cultural event in Ruvo di Puglia, a town in the Metropolitan City of Bari, in the heart of Puglia. Founded in 2013 by the Centro Studi Cultura et Memoria APS under the artistic direction of Vincenza Tedone, the festival is more than just a re-enactment: it is a choral narrative that reopens the city's "book of time" each year, bringing history out of the archives and into the lives of the people.

The Carafa dynasty and its legacy

The central theme is the story of the Carafa family, who shaped the fate of Ruvo for three centuries, from the arrival of the noble house until the end of the feudal system, surviving even the most difficult periods like the plague. Through performances, processions, and installations, the festival turns noble palaces, churches, and squares of the historic center into stops on a journey through time, where costumed characters, dancers, and storytellers give voice to the community's collective memory.

A festival spread across the city's landmarks

The heart of the event is the grand Multi-Era Historical Pageant, which winds through the streets of the old town with hundreds of participants in period costumes. Alongside this, the festival features site-specific dance performances designed to interact with the architecture of the palaces, aerial dance shows, tasting tours inspired by past eras, and historical conferences. The theatrical figures known as the "Guardians of Time" accompany the public through the centuries, guiding them from one stage to the next.

• Historical pageant with hundreds of costumed participants
• Site-specific dance and aerial performances in the squares
• Tastings of local products inspired by the Carafa era
• Conferences and storytelling at the city's heritage sites

A festival rooted in the territory

Rerum Rubis is supported by the Municipality of Ruvo di Puglia and the Bari Chamber of Commerce, actively involving local artisans, tailors, musicians, flag-wavers, and associations. Each edition celebrates local excellence, from gastronomic products to historical costumes crafted by local artisans, making the event a true driver of identity and cohesion for the Ruvo community. Admission to the events is generally free and open to all.