Saints Peter and Paul Fair

A historic fair in the heart of Salento

The Saints Peter and Paul Fair, known locally in dialect as "A Fera de San Pietru e Poulu", is one of the most deep-rooted traditions in Tricase, a town in the Capo di Leuca area of the province of Lecce, in the Apulian Lower Salento. The fair takes place on June 29th, the day the Church celebrates the apostles Peter and Paul, and its roots lie in the ancient rural and pastoral economy of the Salento region.

The ancient morning market

The core of the fair is its morning market. In the past, during the early hours of the day, the streets and squares of the center would fill with stalls selling livestock, agricultural tools, seeds, and local produce. The Piazzetta dell'Abate, historically the site of the old vegetable market, remains a symbolic landmark of this memory, along with Largo Sant'Angelo, Via Santo Spirito, Via Guidone Aymone, Via Principe Gallone, and Via Cittadella, which form the fair's route through the urban fabric of Tricase.

An evening of taste, music, and tradition

As the sun sets, the fair changes its face and becomes a community celebration. Numerous food stalls light up along the streets of the center, offering the typical flavors of Salento, while folk music groups animate the squares and open spaces. In the editions curated by Liquilab, the program has combined moments of ethnographic reflection, testimonies from local farmers, tastings of traditional dishes, folk dance performances, choirs, and tambourine artisans, restoring the fair to its dimension as a collective ritual.

The recovery of intangible heritage

The contemporary rebirth of the fair is owed to the Liquilab association, an anthropological research body based in Tricase, recognized in 2023 as an NGO consultant to UNESCO for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage. Through the collection of oral testimonies and audiovisual research, Liquilab has reconstructed the meanings, places, and memories of the fair, passing on a legacy of local history, popular and religious values, anecdotes, ancient crafts, and rural cuisine to new generations.

Tricase and the Capo di Leuca

Located in the southernmost tip of Apulia, just a few kilometers from Santa Maria di Leuca where the Adriatic and Ionian seas meet, Tricase is a town rich in history, featuring the grand Palazzo dei Principi Gallone and its marinas overlooking the sea. For the Municipality of Tricase, the Saints Peter and Paul Fair is an opportunity to rediscover its roots and welcome visitors and curious onlookers during one of the most vibrant seasons of Salento tourism.

2026 Edition

The dates and detailed program for the 2026 edition have not yet been officially announced. The fair traditionally falls on June 29th, the day of the patron saints: we recommend checking for updates on the channels of the Liquilab association and the Municipality of Tricase as the event approaches.