Terra Rossa – Valle d'Itria Storytelling Festival

The Valle d'Itria Storytelling Festival

Terra Rossa – Valle d'Itria Storytelling Festival is the summer event that brings the art of storytelling back to the heart of cultural life in Ceglie Messapica, in the province of Brindisi, in the heart of Puglia. For three days, the "Sobb'Asile" square, located in the 19th-century district behind the Municipal Theatre, becomes an open-air theatre where spoken, heard, and shared words create a communal experience.

A theatre of words and listening

Artistically directed by Enrico Messina and Daria Paoletta, the festival was born from an idea by Armamaxa and is made possible thanks to the support of the Municipal Administration of Ceglie Messapica and Puglia Culture. Production is handled by Pagine Bianche Teatro. Terra Rossa offers an essential form of storytelling theatre, eschewing spectacular effects in favour of the narrators' voices, which bring myths, fairy tales, memories, and oral traditions back to life.

The Programme

The schedule is divided into three daily segments designed for different audiences:

• Children's Afternoon: gentle, free workshops in the Municipal Theatre atrium, dedicated to creative construction and imagination;
• Performances for all ages: evening tales involving families and young people;
• Storytelling for adults: the most intimate, late-night sessions, featuring stories that weave together myth, memory, and identity.

Ceglie Messapica and the Valle d'Itria

Nestled on the Murgia plateau, among ancient olive trees and the famous Valle d'Itria with its iconic trulli, Ceglie Messapica is one of Puglia's oldest towns and boasts a strong food and wine identity. The festival engages with this landscape: the name "Terra Rossa" (Red Earth) evokes the intense colour of the Puglian soil and a deep connection to the territory. For visitors, Terra Rossa is an opportunity to discover an authentic village through the most human lens possible: that of storytelling.

Practical Information

Performances take place in the evening, with workshops held in the late afternoon. Tickets are affordably priced, and children's workshops are free. Booking is recommended due to the limited capacity of the venue.