Santa Croce Fair

The oldest fair in Casamassima

Every year on May 3rd, Casamassima—a small town in the Metropolitan City of Bari, Puglia—experiences its most vibrant day with the Santa Croce Fair. This event is rooted in centuries of tradition, blending religious significance with a bustling market atmosphere, attracting thousands of people from across the region to the town center.

A celebration of faith and community

The fair originated during the solemn feast of the Holy Cross, where the community venerates the relic of the Holy Wood. The May 3rd date, the ancient Inventio Crucis, commemorates the finding of the Cross and is deeply felt in Casamassima, where liturgical celebrations are accompanied by a procession of the relic through the streets of the town center.

Where it takes place

The fair winds through the heart of the town, occupying Piazza Aldo Moro, Via Marconi, Largo Fiera, and Corso Vittorio Emanuele. For an entire day, the streets are filled with stalls and visitors, leading the local government to close city schools annually to accommodate the influx of people.

What to find at the fair

Hundreds of stalls offer a bit of everything: clothing, footwear, household goods, handicrafts, toys, sweets, and typical Apulian gastronomic products. Historically, the Santa Croce Fair is also linked to the rural world, featuring the sale of barnyard animals—a tradition that has sparked recent debate between animal rights associations and the municipal administration.

Casamassima, the "Blue Town"

The fair is also a perfect opportunity to discover Casamassima, known as the "Blue Town" for the characteristic azure hue that paints many houses in its historic center. According to tradition, this color is linked to a vow made during a plague epidemic. Strolling through the blue alleys, from one stall to the next, is a unique way to experience the day of the Holy Cross.

A local institution

Organized under the patronage of the Municipality of Casamassima, in the Province of Bari, the Santa Croce Fair is much more than a simple market: it is a collective ritual that marks the town's calendar and strengthens the community's sense of identity. For those visiting Puglia in early May, it is the ideal occasion to immerse yourself in the authentic atmosphere of a traditional Apulian village festival.