Swordfish Festival

The seaside festival in Gallipoli

In the heart of the Salento summer, the Swordfish Festival transforms the waterfront of Gallipoli, in the Province of Lecce, into a long, open-air dining table overlooking the Ionian Sea. It is one of the city's most cherished food and wine events, a mid-August ritual that celebrates the maritime soul of the 'beautiful city' and the most authentic flavors of Puglia. From sunset until late at night, amidst the lights of the old town and the aroma of the grill, thousands of residents and tourists gather to savor the undisputed king of the festival: swordfish.

Swordfish, the absolute star

Swordfish is served in all its variations: grilled, meunière with oil, lemon, and parsley, breaded, and fried. Alongside it, the festival offers a true journey through the seafood cuisine of Salento, with stalls managed according to popular tradition and fresh local catches.

A journey through the flavors of Salento

• Grilled, meunière, breaded, and fried swordfish
• Orecchiette with scampi
• Mixed fried fish and local 'paranza' fry
• Roasted octopus and cuttlefish
• Traditional Salento fish soups
• Apulian cheeses, cured meats, olive oil, and wines

Music, dancing, and the Salento atmosphere

The festival is about more than just food: the evenings are enlivened by concerts of traditional Salento folk music, folk groups, dancing, and live shows. In the squares and along the sea, people dance to the rhythm of the pizzica and traditional songs, creating a warm and convivial atmosphere that is the true essence of summer in Salento.

When and where

The event traditionally takes place in mid-August on the Gallipoli waterfront, with free admission. Organized as part of the summer initiatives of the Municipality of Gallipoli, it is now a permanent fixture in the Salento seafood festival calendar, alongside the city's major patronal feasts. A perfect opportunity to combine a beach holiday with the discovery of Apulian gastronomic traditions.