La Notte della Taranta

The Beating Heart of Salento’s Folk Music

Every summer, under the baroque squares and sun-drenched skies of Salento, the magic of La Notte della Taranta comes alive: the largest folk music festival in Italy and one of the most important in Europe. It’s a must-see event for anyone who wants to experience authentic Puglia through music, dance, and deep-rooted tradition.

What is La Notte della Taranta?

La Notte della Taranta is a traveling festival dedicated to pizzica, the traditional Salento dance connected to the ancient ritual of tarantismo. Born in 1998, the festival tours dozens of towns across Salento with concerts, workshops, and cultural events, culminating in the famous "concertone" in Melpignano, which attracts more than 150,000 people from across Italy and beyond.

The Roots: Tarantismo Between Myth and Healing

At the symbolic core of the festival lies the ancient ritual of tarantismo, a cultural and therapeutic phenomenon deeply rooted in southern Italy, especially in Salento.

According to popular belief, the bite of the taranta (a spider, often associated with the tarantula) caused physical and emotional distress, primarily in women. The only cure was a kind of musical exorcism: a frenzied dance to the rhythm of tambourines, violins, and accordions, meant to expel the symbolic poison through movement and trance.

This healing dance evolved into what we now know as pizzica, the vibrant heartbeat of La Notte della Taranta.

Ernesto de Martino and the Rediscovery of Tarantismo

The one who documented and gave anthropological meaning to tarantismo was Ernesto de Martino, one of Italy’s most important 20th-century anthropologists. In 1959, he published the seminal work La terra del rimorso (The Land of Remorse), based on an in-depth ethnographic study in Salento.

De Martino showed that tarantismo was not merely superstition, but a complex cultural response to psychological and social suffering—one that transformed pain into collective expression through music, dance, and ritual.

Today, La Notte della Taranta is also a tribute to his work, reviving and reinterpreting those traditional sounds and meanings on a contemporary stage.

When and Where It Takes Place

La Notte della Taranta is held every August, with events in several towns across the provinces of Lecce, Brindisi, and Taranto. The main concert takes place in Melpignano, a small town in the province of Lecce, and is the grand finale of the festival.

Why You Should Attend La Notte della Taranta

Attending La Notte della Taranta means engaging with a living tradition that comes alive through music, dance, and community:

• Top-quality live music, with international guest artists

• A chance to experience Salento’s folk heritage and Mediterranean spirit

• A fun, festive atmosphere suitable for all ages

• The opportunity to explore the towns of the Grecìa Salentina, rich in history and identity

Past editions have featured artists such as Stewart Copeland (The Police), Ludovico Einaudi, Carmen Consoli, Mahmood, and Diodato.

How to Prepare for La Notte della Taranta

If you're planning to attend, here are a few tips:

• Book early: hotels, B&Bs, and masserie fill up fast in August

• Dress comfortably: the concert lasts for hours, and the pizzica is contagious!

• Check the official schedule to follow all the stops and events

• Take time to explore Salento: visit Lecce, Otranto, Gallipoli, and the region’s stunning beaches

  
  

La Notte della Taranta and Cultural Tourism in Puglia

La Notte della Taranta is a perfect example of cultural tourism in Puglia, combining performance, research, local identity, and the preservation of intangible heritage.

Each edition includes:

• The Orchestra Popolare della Taranta

• A different Maestro Concertatore (artistic director) each year

• Italian and international guest artists who reinterpret pizzica in contemporary styles

  
  

An Ancient Rhythm That Still Makes the Present Dance

La Notte della Taranta is more than a festival—it’s a journey into the soul of Salento. A collective ritual born from the traditions of tarantismo, transformed into celebration, cultural resistance, and healing music.

Come dance under the stars. Feel the bite of the rhythm and discover the true soul of Southern Italy.

Do you want learn to dance pizzica? Book now your experience

Tamburello

Taranta show