Saint Martin's Festival

The new wine festival in the heart of the Gargano

The Saint Martin's Festival is one of the most cherished autumn events in San Nicandro Garganico, a town in the Province of Foggia overlooking the Gargano plateau in Apulia. Every year, around November 11th, the feast day of Saint Martin of Tours, the historic San Martino district fills with lights, sounds, and aromas: it is the moment the community celebrates the arrival of new wine and the flavors of the harvest and olive-pressing season.

Between the sacred and the popular

The tradition is deeply rooted in a blend of religious and rural customs. Saint Martin, the saint who shared his cloak with a beggar, has been linked for centuries to the popular proverb "at Saint Martin's, every must becomes wine": it is during these days, in fact, that the grape must completes its fermentation. The festival opens with a solemn Holy Mass at the Chiesa del Carmine and continues through the streets and the small square of the district with moments of conviviality open to both locals and visitors.

The flavors of the Sannicandro tradition

The heart of the evening is the tasting of local products and new wines. The stalls feature specialties of the Gargano rural memory: musciska (spiced dried meat), toasted bread with olive oil and anchovies, chestnuts, and traditional dishes and PAT agricultural products of the territory such as pancotto, pupurat, and mulignane. All accompanied by a good glass of new wine.

Costumes, music, and identity

The festival is also an opportunity to rediscover the town's identity: traditional clothing is showcased, particularly the Pacchiana, the historical costume that symbolizes Sannicandro's folk culture, while folk groups enliven the evening with songs, dances, and the rhythm of the tammorre. Saint Martin is also celebrated as the patron and protector of artisans, and the event highlights the pride of the local trades and traditions.

A community event

The event is organized by the Pro Loco of San Nicandro Garganico together with numerous cultural associations, schools, and local folk groups, who renew the appointment in the historic district every year. The dates for the 2026 edition have not yet been announced: we recommend following the Pro Loco and municipal channels for the updated program.