The Paths of the Sacred

Ancient rituals, folk music, and authentic flavors come to life on the eve of Easter in Melpignano, a small town rich in art in the Grecìa Salentina. Accompanied by a guide, visitors will discover the 18th-century chapels open for the occasion and dive into the past to explore Easter rites and passion songs through the vibrant voices of local singers. Starting from the scenic Piazza San Giorgio with the Chiesa Madre and the Chapel of the Assumption of the Virgin, the visit continues to the Chapel of San Rocco, dating back to 1760, and then to the nearby Chapel of San Michele Arcangelo to hear the touching Tu Passiuna, a song related to the Passion of Christ, performed in Griko, a language derived from ancient Greek. The journey reaches the Chapel of the Madonna of Constantinople, accompanied by the notes of a devotional tarantella, and finally, in the Palazzo Marchesale, visitors can taste a typical sweet prepared by a local bakery: cuddhura, a type of tarallo shaped like a basket, made from flour, sugar, and hard-boiled eggs, prepared for Holy Saturday as the end of the Lenten fast and a symbol of rebirth and peace. Don't miss the evocative processions that take place throughout Puglia, such as those in Taranto, Grottaglie, Alberobello, Francavilla Fontana, and in the Salento region, in Maglie, as well as the touching Holy Week rituals in Gallipoli.