Saint Gregory of Nazianzus Festival

The patronal feast of Acquarica di Lecce

In the heart of Salento, the Saint Gregory of Nazianzus Festival is the most anticipated event of the year for Acquarica di Lecce, a small village in the municipality of Vernole, in the province of Lecce. Every August 20th and 21st, the village comes alive with faith and celebration: the streets of the historic center light up with spectacular illuminations, brass bands play in Piazza Malta, and the community gathers around its patron saint in an atmosphere of devotion and popular joy typical of Apulian patronal feasts.

A devotion born in the 15th century

The cult of Saint Gregory of Nazianzus in Acquarica dates back to the late 15th century. Tradition tells of a meeting in Albania between Baron Girolamo Guarini and the saintly theologian: the nobleman, fleeing from imperial authorities, was urged to return home, where he would find peace and tranquility in eastern Salento. In gratitude, Guarini proclaimed Saint Gregory of Nazianzus, Doctor of the Church and theologian of the «purified faith», the patron saint of Acquarica di Lecce.

The mother church and Piazza Malta

The focal point of the festivities is the Mother Church of Saint Gregory of Nazianzus, built in 1904 at the behest of Bishop Leone Greco to replace the older, dilapidated previous church. Its neoclassical facade, marked by Corinthian pilasters, overlooks Piazza Malta, the civic heart of the town, which also houses the column dedicated to the saint, donated to the community by the local Pro Loco in 2003. From here, the solemn procession with the statue of the patron saint departs every year.

Rites, music, and popular tradition

The festival intertwines religious and civic dimensions. On the evening of August 20th, immediately after vespers, the statue of Saint Gregory is carried in procession through the streets of the village, with the participation of the faithful and local confraternities. On August 21st, the patronal feast day, liturgical celebrations are renewed, followed by a procession accompanied by brass bands that enrich the pageant with sacred melodies. The civic program features traditional brass band concerts in Piazza Malta, artistic illuminations, and a firework display that concludes the festivities.

An event for the Vernole community

The festival is organized by the Acquarica Patronal Feast Committee, in collaboration with the parish and the Municipality of Vernole. In 2025, the municipality signed the «Bolero» memorandum of understanding with local committees to protect and promote the religious traditions of the six communities in the territory (Vernole, Strudà, Acquarica di Lecce, Pisignano, Vanze, and Acaya). It is a moment of strong identity that draws faithful and visitors from across the province of Lecce every summer.