Saints Peter and Paul Fair

A centuries-old fair in the heart of Conversano

The Saints Peter and Paul Fair is one of the most deeply rooted traditional events in the calendar of Conversano, a town in the Bari Metropolitan City, Apulia. It is held every year on June 29th, the day the Church celebrates the apostles Peter and Paul, transforming several streets in the town center into a large open-air market bustling with stalls, vendors, and visitors. While not the town's patronal feast—which is dedicated to Saint Flavian—this fair has represented a key part of the Conversano community's identity for generations.

When and where it takes place

The market fair occupies five major urban arteries for the entire day: Via Biagio Accolti Gil, Via Donato Jaia, Via Togliatti, Via Marco Polo, and Via Pietro Nenni. Hundreds of stalls of various sizes are set up along these routes, reserved for non-food sectors, including spaces for disabled vendors, fair-trade goods, and traditional Apulian handicrafts.

From agricultural origins to a city market

The event has its roots in an ancient agricultural fair, when the June 29th gathering was a vital occasion for trading goods, tools, and farm produce in the rural calendar of inland Apulia. Over time, its original purpose has evolved: today, while the fair retains its popular character and fixed location, it primarily features clothing, footwear, housewares, gifts, and handicrafts.

What to find at the stalls

Those strolling through the fair can shop for all kinds of items throughout the day. The selection includes:

• clothing, linens, and footwear;
• housewares, tools, and home accessories;
• handicrafts and typical Apulian products;
• toys, costume jewelry, and all sorts of curiosities.

The fair is an eagerly awaited occasion not only for the residents of Conversano but also for numerous visitors from neighboring towns in the south-east Bari area, who take advantage of the day to combine shopping with a walk through the town center.

Discovering Conversano and Apulia

The day of the fair is also an excellent opportunity to discover Conversano, one of the most charming villages in the Bari hinterland, dominated by the Acquaviva d'Aragona Castle, the Romanesque Cathedral, and the Monastery of San Benedetto. Nestled among olive groves, vineyards, and cherry orchards, the town is an ideal starting point for exploring the Apulia of trulli, caves, and the Adriatic coast, just a few kilometers from the towns of the Itria Valley and the sea of Polignano and Monopoli.