The Fòcara of Novoli

Every January, in the heart of Salento, the small town of Novoli transforms. Thousands of hands, guided by ancient devotion, gather grapevine trimmings from local vineyards to build a miracle of fire: the Fòcara, the largest bonfire in the Mediterranean, up to 25 meters tall and just as wide.

No one knows exactly when this tradition began. Legend says a fire once threatened the town, and through the intercession of Saint Anthony the Abbot, it was stopped. In return, the people vowed to light a fire each year — to purify evil and thank the saint.

But what’s most fascinating is how it's built. No cranes, no concrete. Only skilled men, “the Masters of the Fòcara”, who weave the vines in silence, following rules passed down by word of mouth. No blueprints — just memory. The Fòcara is built with the patience of farmers and the precision of monks.

When it finally burns on a January night, the sky opens. The flames dance like ancient spirits, and in the crackling you may hear — perhaps — the voices of those who have lit that fire for centuries.