Saint Mark the Evangelist Festival - Santu Marcu Picciccu

A spring festival in the heart of Salento

The Saint Mark the Evangelist Festival is the annual spring patronal celebration in Cellino San Marco, a town in the Salento region of the Brindisi province, Apulia. It is held every year on April 24th and 25th, with the latter date coinciding with the saint's dies natalis. Locals refer to the event by the affectionate dialect name Santu Marcu Picciccu (Little Saint Mark) to distinguish it from the town's main festival dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria, celebrated in November. While Saint Mark is the minor patron, his feast remains one of the most cherished community gatherings of the year.

Sacred rites and popular devotion

The religious heart of the festival is the solemn procession that winds through the historic center on the late afternoon of April 24th, renewing an ancient rite deeply rooted in the community. The devotional pageant accompanies the statue of the saint, with the participation of the faithful, local committees, and confraternities, returning eventually to the mother church. The spiritual dimension has always been intertwined with civic life, following a tradition in Cellino San Marco that blends faith, music, and conviviality.

The historic fair and the Fera te li Cavaddhri

A defining element of the festival is the ancient market fair, which brings the town to life from the morning of April 25th. Among its most characteristic features is the Fera te li Cavaddhri, a historic horse and livestock fair that traces its roots back to the agricultural and rural heritage of the Salento territory. Stalls, local products, handicrafts, and family attractions transform the streets into a large open-air market, drawing visitors from neighboring towns.

Music, flavors, and the Bampata

The civic program includes a traditional brass band concert in Piazza Aldo Moro, the beating heart of the festivities, along with evenings of live music featuring various bands. Alongside the performances, the festival celebrates local gastronomy through show cooking and, most notably, the Bampata, an event dedicated to the traditional Salento puccia, the stuffed bread that serves as a symbol of Salento street food. As is tradition, the festival concludes with a fireworks display that lights up the sky over Cellino San Marco.

Cellino San Marco, a land of wine and song

Known also as the hometown of singer Al Bano Carrisi and for its prestigious wineries, Cellino San Marco offers visitors an authentic Salento experience amidst olive groves, vineyards, and rural traditions. The Saint Mark Festival is the perfect opportunity to explore the town center, savor local delicacies, and experience the hospitality of a community that gathers every spring to honor its patron saint.