Salento Organ Festival

A festival dedicated to the historic organs of Salento

The Salento Organ Festival is a traveling concert series that, from July to November, brings the churches and cathedrals of the Salento peninsula to life with organ music. Organized by the J.S. Bach Institute of Musical Culture in Tricase under the artistic direction of Maestro Francesco Scarcella, the festival has a clear mission: to promote and showcase one of the most precious artistic and musical heritages in Southern Italy—the ancient historic organs preserved in the region's places of worship.

The Salve evenings at the Mother Church of San Nicola Magno

In the town of Salve, in the province of Lecce, at the very tip of the Capo di Leuca, the festival finds one of its most evocative venues: the Mother Church of San Nicola Magno. This church houses a rare organ built in 1628 by Giovanni Battista Olgiati and Tommaso Mauro, which was restored in 2012. It is considered the only organ in Europe that still retains all the characteristic features of instruments built in churches between the late Middle Ages and the 17th century: an extraordinary instrument that makes every concert in Salve an event of international significance.

Every summer, the church's choir loft welcomes internationally renowned organists and harpsichordists, who present programs ranging from Baroque repertoire and sacred music to more recent compositions. The concerts are often enriched by vocal and instrumental ensembles, offering the audience a listening experience where the church's acoustics and the timbre of the ancient organ engage in a unique dialogue.

Beyond concerts: training and masterclasses

The Salento Organ Festival is more than just a concert season. The event places great emphasis on training new generations through masterclasses, meetings, and educational initiatives aimed at students and young organists from Italy and abroad. Lessons take place directly on the region's historic organs, offering students a rare opportunity to study on perfectly preserved period instruments.

A heritage to experience in Puglia

Part of the broader cultural landscape of Puglia and supported by the Ministry of Culture and the Puglia Region, with the patronage of the Province of Lecce, the festival is yet another reason to discover the villages of the Capo di Leuca off the beaten tourist path. Attending an organ concert in Salve means combining the discovery of a small Salento architectural gem with the experience of world-class music in an intimate and authentic atmosphere.