MINERVINO DI LECCE 16 -19 MARCH 2025
The Tables of St Joseph in Minervino di Lecce, Cocumola, Specchia Gallone
DIVINE VILLAGES AMONG SAINTS, FAIRY TALES AND MEGALITHS
Minervino di Lecce - A place for the soul
“Time is a resource to be used with ease and detachment” Italo Calvino
Slow tourism: a mix of faith and gastronomy
The Tables of San Giusepe - Minervino di Lecce
and its hamlets Cocumola and Specchia Gallone
What can the ‘Tavole di San Giuseppe’ represent today? A challenge and an obligation towards the new generations, the opportunity to take up the baton of a tradition and revive it by reinterpreting its deepest meanings, without neglecting the socio-economic and tourist repercussions on the territory, at a time of the year when there aren’t large numbers of tourists. It’s not just a question of promoting a tradition, but also of promoting a spirituality experienced in intimacy.
The decision to start a new narrative of Salento’s religious rites aims to promote a slow and local tourism, which goes in search of minor destinations, to rediscover traditions, unique or popular festivals, where the inhabitants of the territories mingle with the tourists, in an example of mutual combination. This type of tourism retains the experiential characteristics and contributes to the discovery of the authenticity of the communities, giving the travelling guest the exclusive opportunity to participate in the ‘real’ life of the host community.
In fact, among the fundamental resources of Minervino di Lecce and also among the most significant rites of the Salento tradition, a prominent place is occupied by the ‘Tables of St. Joseph’, which are held on 18 and 19 March to celebrate St. Joseph. According to some ancient and traditional rituals, some villages in the Otranto area, such as Minervino di Lecce and the hamlets of Cocumola and Specchia Gallone, pay homage to the Saint in a
, some villages in the Otranto area, such as Minervino di Lecce and the hamlets of Cocumola and Specchia Gallone.
What to see in Minervino di Lecce and its hamlets
Cocumola and Specchia Gallone
- The Chiesa Madre di San Michele Arcangelo (Mother Church of St Michael the Archangel)
- The ‘Li Scusi’ Dolmen
- The Monticelli Menhir
- Venturi Palace
- The Church of St Nicholas in Cocumola
- The Cross Menhir in Cocumola
- The Chapel of Sant’Anna and the Baronial Palace Gallone in Specchia Gallone
PROGRAMME 2025
Meeting - ex asilo Scarciglia
via sant'angelo - h: 17:30
The tradition of the St Joseph's Table between religious and convivial rites
Institutional greetings
Antonio MARTE – Mayor of Minervino di Lecce
Salvatore SANTESE – President of Associazione Mercatino del Gusto
Sunday
16th March
Monday
17 March
GUSTOLAB - ex asilo Scarciglia
via sant'angelo - h: 13:00
THE CUISINE OF THE TABLES OF ST JOSEPH
The Community Values of Albanian (Arbëreshe) and Salento Cuisine interpreted by Klejda Dilo and Alfredo De Luca
In the ancient arbëreshe communities, in fact, on St Joseph’s Day they celebrated the Arcipurcim or feast of the Arziburo, a community banquet between families of the same
lineage. Jewish communities celebrated Tu BiShevat, the New Year for trees, with a meal of fifteen varieties of fruit. There is also talk of Muslim influences linked to the community banquet and charity towards the poor, in an ideal embrace of civilisation combined with the Christian agape.
With:
Rosaria BIANCO,
Michele BRUNO,
Flavio GUIDO,
Luciano PIGNATARO
ex asilo Scarciglia
via sant'angelo - h: 13:00
The symbols of St Joseph: bread, oranges, fennel
Between tradition and innovation, freely interpreted by Roberto Musarò
The Feast of Saint Joseph celebrates community values, charity, solidarity and a simple and sincere faith, with great solemnity in many countries.
with:
Gino L. DIMITRI,
Giorgia TAURINO,
Francesco ZOMPÌ
Tuesday
18 March
Tuesday
18 March
Gastronomic tour of churches, palaces and houses - 17:00
Travelling table for knowledge and sharing
The gastronomic route will be inaugurated by Dr Natalino Domenico Manno, Prefect of Lecce, and winds through the streets of the town, involving all three residential areas. Each house of the devotees opens its doors to welcome a silent pilgrimage that traces a route through the town’s streets from house to house. Tourists who unwittingly become pilgrims are enveloped by the aromas, flavours and rituals that they can learn about, share and taste at the refreshment points of the ‘Tavola Itinerante’ (Travelling Table) scattered throughout the municipal area. A selection of the 13 dishes on the tables, all made with products from local farms, will be offered and can be savoured around the warmth of a small bonfire. The refreshment points are as follows:
Massa di San Giuseppe – Parish Oratory – Minervino di Lecce
Vermicelli – Via Oberdan, 1 – Cocumola
Massa di San Giuseppe – Church of Sant’Anna – Specchia Gallone
Lampacioni, boiled turnips and chickpeas – Rione San Pietro – Minervino di Lecce
Pittule – Rione Padre Pio – Minervino di Lecce
Bread, oil and fennel – Via Borgo Murtole, 10 – Minervino di Lecce
Fried fish – Parish Oratory – Cocumola
Purceddhruzzi – Piazza IV Novembre – Minervino di Lecce
The focal point of the ‘Travelling Table’ will be Piazza Umberto I in Minervino, where there will be a ‘demonstration and educational table’ organised by the Proloco, the mapping of the routes, an infopoint and a welcome area.
A shuttle service, with several stops, will travel along a single route through the three centres of Minervino, Specchia Gallone and Cocumola, following the routes of the tables of the devotees and the refreshment points of the ‘Tavola Itinerante’.
The tables, preceding the rites of Holy Week and Easter, are set with white tablecloths embroidered with freesias, and in the centre there is an image of the Saint, ring-shaped bread, fennel and an orange.
The Tables of St Joseph require the preparation of 169 dishes, exactly 13 dishes for each of the 13 saints present. All the dishes are part of the gastronomic tradition of Salento, and are seasonal.
Fresh durum wheat pasta with chickpeas and cabbage is a must, and in the local dialect is known as ‘massa’ and in the hamlet of Cocumola it becomes ’ vermiceddri”, but there are also wild onions in oil – representing the imminent transition from winter to spring – and again the “pittule”, the “boiled vegetables”, the “salt cod”, the “fried fish” and much more. The same specialities are prepared and set out on the tables in many houses in Minervino on the afternoon of the 18th and the morning of the 19th, and offered to the visitors, who can thus hear about an ancient tradition, dictated by religious devotion and the Christian virtue of charity, from the Minervino locals themselves.
Tuesday 18 March 2025 open to the public in the evening
The Children’s Table at the Church of Sant’Antonio – Piazza IV Novembre – organised by the Minervino Mini Town Association
Meeting
Wednesday 19 March 2025 - 18:30
In the footsteps of God. Peregrinatio, the search for man
Church of Maria SS: Immacolata – Minervino di Lecce, in the company of ENSEMBLE CONCENTUS, organised by the Maglie Lions Club, institutional greetings, speakers: Prof. Mario MATERA – Professor of History, Prof. Anna TRONO – President of the Via Francigena Pugliese Association, Father Giambattista Mario MATERA – History Professor
Prof. Anna TRONO – President of the Via Francigena Pugliese Association
Father Giambattista MORONI of the Comboni Missionaries
Introduction and moderation: Franca DI CONZA
ROUTE BETWEEN THE BOARDS: on the map you'll find the right itinerary for you!
ROUTE BETWEEN THE BOARDS: on the map you'll find the right itinerary for you!
SCAN THE QR CODE AND GO TO THE MAP OF MINERVINO DI LECCE'S TABLES
SCAN THE QR CODE AND GO TO THE MAP OF COCUMOLA'S TABLES
SCAN THE QR CODE AND GO TO THE MAP OF SPECCHIA GALLONE'S TABLES
Download the complete programme in pdf format and choose which event to attend. We look forward to seeing you in Minervino di Lecce from 16 to 19 March!
