Terra delle Gravine International Folklore Festival

The festival that makes Palagianello the capital of folklore

The Terra delle Gravine International Folklore Festival is the most anticipated summer event in Palagianello, a small town in the Province of Taranto, Apulia, nestled in the evocative landscape of the gravine—the deep karst canyons that define this corner of the Murgia. Every year, during the first week of August, the town transforms into a crossroads of cultures: folk dance and music groups from every corner of the globe showcase their costumes, instruments, and ancient traditions.

A world-renowned event

The festival is organized by the Gruppo Folkloristico Città di Palagianello, founded in 1982 and recognized as a group of national interest by the FITP (Italian Federation of Popular Traditions). Thanks to this event and its constant commitment to safeguarding traditions, Palagianello has earned the titles of Capital of Apulian Folklore and City of Folklore. The event is listed among the festivals of excellence recognized by UNESCO and the CIOFF (International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts), a testament to its twenty-year journey.

What to expect

The heart of the festival is the Madonna delle Grazie Park Amphitheatre, where the guest groups perform every evening. However, the festivities begin in the afternoon with the flag-raising ceremony and the colorful parade of artists through the town center, culminating in the evocative flag-lowering ceremony. Recent editions have featured ensembles from Taiwan, Bolivia, Serbia, Kenya, India, Albania, New Zealand, Colombia, Costa Rica, Bulgaria, and many other countries, alongside the hosts, the Palagianello group.

• Free admission to all evenings
• Open-air evening performances in the amphitheatre
• Parades and processions of artists in costume through the town
• A festive atmosphere dedicated to meeting and dialogue between peoples

Much more than a show, the festival is an opportunity to experience Palagianello, discover its ancient village built around the 14th-century castle and the rock-hewn village carved into the ravine, and breathe in Apulian hospitality in one of its most authentic expressions.