Sagra de lu Noce Walnut Festival

The festival celebrating the Salento walnut

The Sagra de lu Noce is the most iconic summer event in Nociglia, a tiny village in the Lecce hinterland, in the heart of the Capo di Leuca. Organized by the Pro Loco Farnese with the support of the Puglia Region and the patronage of the Province of Lecce and the Municipality of Nociglia, the event dedicates two July evenings to a fruit that is much more than an agricultural product here: it is memory, tradition, and collective identity.

The bond between Nociglia and the walnut

The very name of the town tells this story: Nociglia derives from the Latin nux-nucis, meaning walnut, a testament to the village's deep-rooted connection to the traditional cultivation of the tree. Even today, in the garden of the Palazzo Baronale Gallone-Pignatelli, in Piazzale della Pace, stands a majestic centuries-old walnut tree, which has become a living symbol of the community and the heart of the festival.

The flavors of peasant tradition

The gastronomic route highlights the walnut in all its forms, following recipes handed down by Salento farming families. Among the most anticipated specialties:

• Walnut bread, fragrant and rustic
• Pasta with crushed walnuts, the festival's signature dish
• Tarts and walnut-based desserts
• Nocino, the traditional artisanal liqueur made from green walnut husks

Alongside the food stalls, there are also stands featuring local crafts and regional agricultural products.

Folk music and culture

The evenings are brought to life by Salento folk music, with pizzica concerts and traditional singing in the village's two main squares, Piazzale della Pace and Piazza Ruggeri. The festival also combines taste and culture thanks to free guided tours of the town's historic sites, including the Cappella della Madonna dell'Idri, the Church of San Nicola, the Palazzo Baronale, and the Cappella dell'Assunta. During the event, the Noce d'Eccellenza (Excellence in Walnut) award is also presented.

An authentic Salento village

For two days, Nociglia becomes a landmark for lovers of typical Capo di Leuca products, offering visitors an authentic, village-scale experience far from the major tourist flows of the coast. The Sagra de lu Noce is an ideal opportunity to discover a more intimate side of Salento, made of traditions, genuine flavors, and hospitality.