San Martino in Piazza

San Martino in Piazza, the ritual of new wine in the heart of Salento

In Monteroni di Lecce, a town in the province of Lecce in Puglia, the feast of Saint Martin coincides with one of the most anticipated events of the Salento autumn. According to the local farming proverb, "on Saint Martin's Day, every must becomes wine," and it is precisely around this new wine that San Martino in Piazza revolves—a two-day food, wine, and cultural event that enlivens the town's historic center every November. Organized by the Pro Loco of Monteroni, the festival combines tastings, music, theater, and popular memory into one great event with free admission.

Piazza Falconieri and the Palazzo Baronale

The heart of the festival beats in Piazza Falconieri and within the Palazzo Baronale, which for two days are transformed into an open-air stage. Food stalls are set up throughout the streets and courtyards of the historic center, offering traditional Salento dishes paired with new wine from local wineries. There is no shortage of art and photography exhibitions, as well as conferences and symposiums dedicated to local agriculture and climate challenges, fostering a constant dialogue between celebration and reflection on the future of the region.

The 'Gioco DiVino' and the flavors of Salento

A symbolic moment of the event is the 'Gioco DiVino', a contest that pits producers and amateur wine enthusiasts against each other in a convivial challenge centered on the best new wine bottles. Tastings are accompanied by typical products from the Valle della Cupa and Salento, including cheeses, cured meats, desserts, and peasant-style dishes, in a culinary journey that celebrates the harvest season and Puglian winemaking culture.

Music, pizzica, and theatrical tours

The soundtrack of San Martino in Piazza ranges from DJ sets to live concerts by singer-songwriters and bands, as well as performances in the bandstand and the unmissable pizzica dance circles with the local brass band, the beating heart of Salento tradition. Among the most evocative offerings are the theatrical tours dedicated to the life and legends of Saint Martin, which guide the public through the squares in an itinerant narrative of history, folklore, and devotion.

A festival grown with the community

Established in 2014, the event has grown year after year to become, as local administrators emphasize, one of the defining identity events of Monteroni di Lecce. The event is sponsored by the Municipality of Monteroni di Lecce, the Province of Lecce, and the Apulia Region, with the support of the GAL Valle della Cupa and numerous local associations. It is a community project that combines the promotion of typical products, the recovery of traditions, and the tourism development of inland Salento.