Santa Lucia Fair – Pupi Fair

A Christmas tradition spanning nearly four centuries

The Santa Lucia Fair, popularly known as the Pupi Fair, is one of the most deep-rooted Christmas traditions in Lecce and the entire Salento region. Its origins date back to the 16th and 17th centuries: the fair was already mentioned in 1634 by Giulio Cesare Infantino in his work Lecce Sacra, a testament to the ancient bond between the city and this event. Originally, it was held on a single day, December 13th, the feast of Saint Lucy, near the ancient church dedicated to the saint, which was demolished in the 1960s.

The pupi and the master pupari

The absolute stars of the fair are the pupi: nativity figurines and figures handcrafted from papier-mâché and terracotta, using techniques that have remained virtually unchanged for centuries. The Salento master pupari, guardians of artisanal knowledge passed down through generations, display shepherds, Holy Families, scenes of daily life, small houses, fountains, and nativity accessories. Lecce's papier-mâché, an art for which the city is world-renowned, finds one of its most authentic and Christmas-linked expressions here.

The Chiostro dei Teatini, the fair's setting

For several years, the Pupi Fair has been held in the Chiostro dei Teatini (former Teatini Convent), along Via Vittorio Emanuele II, just a few steps from Piazza Duomo in the heart of Lecce's baroque historic center. Under the arches of the cloister, among the artisans' stalls, one can breathe in the intimate and cozy atmosphere of a Salento Christmas. The event is organized by the Municipality of Lecce and exclusively permits artisanal nativity-themed products, excluding industrial goods to protect the quality and authenticity of the event.

A fixed appointment of the Lecce Christmas

During the 19th and 20th centuries, the fair gradually extended from the day of Saint Lucy until Christmas Eve, becoming a staple of the holiday season in Lecce. Today, the Pupi Fair typically opens in the first days of December and remains set up until Christmas Eve, becoming part of the rich calendar of markets and Christmas initiatives that enliven the Salento capital, in the Province of Lecce, in the heart of Puglia. At the end of the fair, also in the Chiostro dei Teatini, the Salento Craft Fair begins, dedicated to local artisanal production.