In the heart of the splendid Italian region of Salento, there is an event that enchants and fascinates: the Notte della Taranta in Melpignano. This fascinating musical show celebrates the rich culture and tradition of Grecia Salentina, an area in Puglia where a strong influence of Greek culture persists.

 

Deep Roots

Grecia Salentina is a linguistic and cultural area located in the southern part of Puglia, where Greek traditions have deep roots. Here, the Greco-Salento dialect, known as griko, is still spoken by many inhabitants. The region is famous for its rich cultural heritage, which is reflected in music, dance and traditional festivals.

The “Grecìa Salentina” is made up of nine municipalities: Calimera, Castrignano dei Greci, Corigliano d’Otranto, Martano, Martignano, Melpignano, Soleto, Sternatia and Zollino.

Sternatia is the town where the ancient dialect language of Greek origin, “griko”, is today best known and spoken among the inhabitants.

In the historic center, we can find numerous courtyard houses, ashlar portals and the baronial residence of Palazzo Granafei. The precious monumental palace was built during the first part of the eighteenth century, although the frescoes inside are later and dated 1775. Inside it houses a sixteenth-century underground oil mill.

Nearby Soleto was, even before being a Greek city, an important center of the Messapian civilization, as evidenced by numerous tombs and the discovery of the ancient enclosure walls. With the advent of the Eastern Empire, it was also an episcopal seat. The historic center is very beautiful, which still retains its medieval structure with very narrow parallel and perpendicular streets, with baroque portals and Renaissance noble houses. The most important monument in all of Soleto is the so-called Raimondello Spire. It is a large bell tower, but without a bell and erected exclusively for ornamental purposes, an example of Gothic art in Salento.

From Soleto we can easily reach Zollino, where we can admire above all the religious architectural constructions.

We then reach the town of Martano, one of the largest Greek-influenced villages in this area.

However, its territory was already inhabited a long time before as evidenced by the prehistoric menhirs of Santu Totaru and Teofilo. It was in the medieval period that Greek influence arrived, being inhabited by colonists from the Eastern Roman Empire and the Greek rite was preserved until the end of the seventeenth century.

The Grike dialect and traditions, however, still survive today. The historic center of Martano shows some parts of the ancient city walls, and some historic noble palaces built between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries, the most beautiful example of which is probably that of Palazzo Moschettini, equipped with a large, finely decorated portal and a long balcony equally valuable.

From Martano we move to Martignano. The origins of this center could themselves date back to the Greek period, in one of the important junctions that Lecce led to Otranto and Nardò. The most important monuments it preserves are the Parish Church, the Clock Tower and the Bell Tower, all united in a single structure.

We then reach Calimera, a town in which the Greek origin is already directly inherent in its name. “Calimera” in fact means “good day” in Greek. The history of the small church of San Vito which stands just outside the town center, in the countryside, is evocative. This small church open only on Easter Monday has a large boulder inside with a hole in the middle. Tradition wanted people to pass through the forum to propitiate fertility according to an ancient pagan rite. The church was built around the boulder precisely to “Christianize” it too and thus prevent pagan rites from continuing to perpetuate themselves. However, the tradition has been preserved to this day and every Easter Monday many inhabitants of Calimera reach it to pass through the boulder.

Castrignano dei Greci. Here too, the origin is evident in the very name of the town, which is therefore thought to have been founded directly by a population coming from the Eastern Roman Empire and was certainly inhabited by the Byzantines between the 6th and 9th centuries.

On the other hand, the buildings of the time are no longer present and the most important monuments remain the nineteenth-century Parish Church of the Madonna SS. Annunziata and the sixteenth-century Gualtieri Castle, adapted as a baronial residence on an older pre-existing building.

Corigliano d’Otranto, also Greek from the 6th to the 9th century. Its ancient castle from 1465 (Castello dei Monti) resisted the terrible Turkish attack of 1480, so that it is still today a source of pride not only architecturally, but also purely historical. The visual impact is truly majestic, bringing to mind the classic concept of a “medieval castle”: four towers at each corner, surrounded by a large moat which was once accessed via a drawbridge.

Not far from Castrignano lies Melpignano, today very famous due to the famous Notte della Taranta. This village was also inhabited by Greeks and the Greek rite was preserved until the sixteenth century.

In the historic centre, the beautiful Piazza San Giorgio is worth seeing, where the parish church, round-headed Renaissance porticoes and the Clock Tower built at the beginning of the twentieth century are located. Also important is the Church of the Virgin of Carmelo, with an imposing façade built in the mid-17th century and enriched with baroque details by Giuseppe Zimbalo. Finally, it is worth taking a trip to the seventeenth-century Palazzo Marchesale.

 

The Night of the Taranta: A Unique Experience

At the heart of this vibrant culture is the Notte della Taranta, an event that celebrates the traditional music of Salento, in particular tarantismo, an ancient healing ritual through music and dance. The event culminates with a large concert in the picturesque town of Melpignano, where musicians from all over the world come together to play pizzica, a traditional Salento musical genre.

 

The magical atmosphere of Melpignano

Melpignano offers the perfect setting for this extraordinary celebration. During the Notte della Taranta, the streets come alive with colours, sounds and scents, while visitors completely immerse themselves in the magical and engaging atmosphere.

 

An unforgettable experience

Participating in the Notte della Taranta is an unforgettable experience for anyone who loves music, dance and culture. Visitors can enjoy not only the main concert, but also a number of side events, such as pizzica lessons and performances by local artists. It is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the culture and tradition of Salento, while creating an experience of sharing and celebration with people from all over the world.

 

Conclusions

The Notte della Taranta in Melpignano is much more than a simple concert; it is a journey through the history, music and culture of Salento. This magical event captures the essence of Grecia Salentina, offering visitors an authentic and unforgettable experience. If you are looking for cultural and musical adventures, there is no better place to be than here, in the heart of Puglia, during the Notte della Taranta.