XXIV° Notte di San Giovanni

The Night of San Giovanni, now in its 24th edition, takes place in the ancient area of the city of Bitetto, a rural setting with a strong historical and artistic impact that, due to its uniqueness, attracts numerous tourists drawn by the presence of medieval architectural sites, with the highlight being the Romanesque-Puglian style Cathedral.

The event is linked to the ancient rituals celebrating the summer solstice, which transformed into a religious observance with the advent of Christianity. Despite the strong religious component, the night between June 23rd and 24th is celebrated worldwide with strong references to magic and traditions that date back to pre-Christian periods, commemorated already by the early Romans, where cults and enchantments mix under the starlight.

Musicians, storytellers, and fortune tellers perform until late at night to produce a special hymn to life, strongly referencing the farming tradition. The Night of San Giovanni is also famous and made even more magical by its thousand fires that are lit across Europe, a very ancient tradition passed down from the Phoenicians, who worshiped the god Moloch mentioned in the Old Testament and revered by the Canaanites, named in Leviticus and the Book of Kings. Concluding with the solstice celebrations, there was a glorification of water, a symbol of fertility and purification, with San Giovanni being seen as a protector against malevolent influences, ensuring the rebirth of light.

Among the ancient courts and small squares, the incredible artistic installations are created thanks to the creativity of members with specific references to natural elements such as water, air, earth, and fire. The food and typical products are surprising, including the quintessential spaghetti alla San Giuannidd, local wine, and figs. Fresh walnuts are always available for making nocino according to traditional recipes. Among the squares and alleys, local craft stalls display their handmade products made strictly from natural materials (leather, wood, cotton).

Christian tradition blends with rural culture on this special day, and fire becomes the protagonist: fires are lit with old herbs to ward off evil spirits and give strength to the Sun, as the days begin to shorten after the Summer Solstice. In the courts of the old town, lead is melted with fire to read the future, and the alleys are filled with the scent of rosemary burnt like incense to function as a talisman.

Fire jugglers perform in the little squares with their acts, reminiscent of the ancient tradition of jumping over flames in search of good fortune. Meanwhile, water, the contrasting element par excellence, shares the spotlight: fortune-telling is practiced by reading an egg white placed in a bowl of water, the herbs of the San Giovanni bundle (St. John's wort, lavender, mugwort, mallow, mint, rosemary, and sage) are left to macerate in water to harness the power of nature and deities, and seers advise collecting dew from the fields, which is considered miraculous and beneficial on this night.

Bitetto (Bari)
Historic center of Bitetto
Piazza del Popolo
8:00 PM
free entry