Sagra te lu puercu (Villagers' Festival)

The villagers' festival in the heart of Salento

The Sagra te lu puercu, also known as the Villagers' Festival, is one of the most authentic events on the calendar of the Fòcara of Novoli, in the heart of Salento, in the province of Lecce. Every year, on the Sunday of the festivities in honor of Saint Anthony the Abbot, Piazza Sant'Antonio Abate transforms into the town's living room: the scents of roasted meat, folk music, and a crowd spanning all generations.

The ritual of the "paninu cu lu puercu"

The absolute star of the evening is the sale of the traditional "paninu cu lu puercu", a sandwich with pork prepared according to the recipe handed down by Salento's peasant culture. This is not just a gastronomic event, but a true community moment, a symbol of conviviality and a tradition that has always made simplicity its most authentic value. The festival stems from the ancient custom of consuming roasted meats around the Fòcara and has become a defining identity event for Novoli and the entire Salento region over time.

Salento folk music

The Sagra te lu puercu is accompanied by the sounds of tradition: on the stage in Piazza Sant'Antonio Abate, Salento folk music groups take turns, featuring pizzica, tarantella, and songs from the land of Salento. The 2026 edition featured the Compagnia Popolare Salentina, Enzo Petrachi & Folk Orchestra, and Accasaccio, for a night of celebration that unites food, dance, and collective memory.

Inside the Fòcara of Novoli

The festival is part of the program of the Fòcara of Novoli, the great feast dedicated to Saint Anthony the Abbot that takes place every January in the town of Novoli. The heart of the celebration is the lighting of one of the most impressive ritual bonfires in the world, standing up to twenty meters tall and built with over thirty thousand bundles of vine shoots. The Fòcara attracts thousands of visitors to Puglia every year, and the Sagra te lu puercu represents its most popular and convivial side.

An event for everyone

With free admission, the Sagra te lu puercu is designed for families and anyone who wants to discover the authentic soul of Salento. It is the ideal opportunity to taste the flavors of peasant cuisine, let yourself be carried away by the rhythms of the pizzica, and experience the unique atmosphere of a community gathered around the fire of Saint Anthony the Abbot.