Activities

FESTIVALS IN NOCI

“LA SAGRA DEI FUNGHI”

MUSHROOM FESTIVAL (OCTOBER)

The local mycological association organizes an interesting mushroom festival in the month of October, entitled “The Flavours of the forest”. During the event, which lasts two days, you can taste the typical dishes of the local cuisine based on mushrooms from the local rich forests. In addition, along with a trade show there are lectures about the fungus.

“IL BACCO NELLE GNOSTRE”

NEW WINE FESTIVAL (2nd WEEKEND NOVEMBER)

In the month of November, there is this important festival of wine and chestnuts, sponsored and organized by the Literary Park: ‘Ants of Puglia – T. Fiore’. It is a relative new initiative, set to become a fixed element of the autumn Nocese.

http://www.formichedipuglia.it/cms/news/28-torna-bacco-nelle-giostre-sabato-8-e-domenica-9-novembre. It is necessary to reserve beforehand as people come here from far and near. During “il Bacco” you can’t drive in Noci with your car. You can park your car at various parking places outside the city and shuttle services will bring you to town.

Among the gnostre (typical open courtyards) of the old town, numerous stands are set up that provide the opportunity to ‘warm up’ this long autumn night tasting the new wines and roasted chestnuts and other typical products of Apulia.

“PETTOLE NELLE GNOSTRE”

CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL (MID-DECEMBER)

It’s almost Christmas when, in the courtyards of the narrow streets in the old town of Noci, a rich feast of ‘pettole’ and chocolate is held by ‘Formiche di Puglia – T. Fiore’. The ‘pettole’ are typical local deep fried dumplings, which are prepared only for the holiday season. This festival also highlights the local ‘cioccolatiero’.

FAIRS AND MARKETS

These markets are a somewhat festive and extensive version of the weekly market. Suddenly furniture, wooden ladders, braided baskets for the search of mushrooms or wild asparagus and for vegetables and fruit are displayed. To put it briefly, these extra objects attract more citizens and people from outside the town to see if there is something they fancy.

FAIR OF S. MARY OF THE CROSS (APRIL 30)

On April 30, the first market of the year is held, just three days ahead of the festivities in honour of Our Lady of the Cross. It’s held at La Madonna della Croce, the church on “our” road at 800 meters before Noci.

FAIR OF S. ANTONIO (JUNE 10)

A rich market of tools and agricultural implements is held on the 10th of June along the Estramurale in town.

SEPTEMBER FAIR (SEPTEMBER 14)

After the solemn celebrations in honour of St. Rocco (protector of Noci), which are held on the first Sunday of September, on the 14th of the month, a large fair where you can find all kinds of goods is held.

FAIR OF THE CHRIST CHILD (DECEMBER 19)

In full Christmas spirit, the last fair of the year is held on December 19. It’s a good opportunity to purchase the necessities for the holiday season and the end of the year, including terracotta figurines.

WEEKLY MARKET (EVERY TUESDAY)

Every Tuesday there is an extensive weekly market that takes up most of the streets that surround the centre of the village (Piazza Garibaldi and Estramurale). There are kinds of all kinds: clothing, furniture, haberdashery and varied food. For people living in the countryside, the weekly market is the only day in the week they come to town to do some shopping, but also to socialize. Only if Tuesday is a holiday, the market will take place on a Monday.

Tuesday is also the day that the pizzeria “Il Bosco delle Noci” serves pizza during lunch. Normally (except in very touristic places) pizza is only served during dinner.

PATRON HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVALS

THE EVENING OF GOOD FRIDAY

Procession of the Mysteries of the Christ of Casaboli (a hamlet of Noci where in the 15^th century the first settlement of Noci was located). On the evening of Good Friday, the procession of the Christ of Casaboli is held. It’s an ancient crucifix and revered by Nocesi, which according to tradition comes from the house of Casaboli destroyed in the sixteenth century. On the afternoon of Good Friday, the procession of the ‘Misteri’ statues is held. Carried in procession in what is meant to be a commemoration of the key stages of the Passion and Death of the Christ.

FESTIVAL OF St MARY OF THE CROSS (MAY 2/3/4)

A festival around a fresco found, according to religious tradition, in a cave in a grove near the church (la Madonna della Croce), which originates the popular cult of the Virgin Mary of the Cross. It is celebrated each year on the 3rd of May. On the last day of April, the effigy is taken from the Sanctuary of the Madonna and brought to the Mother Church.

FESTIVAL AT THE SHRINE OF St MARY OF THE CROSS (MAY 31) 

The last day of May, at the end of the month of Mary, the effigy of Our Lady of the Cross has been exposed for the entire month in the Mother Church and will now be taken back to the church of Madonna della Croce at the end of our road. There are lights and fireworks to celebrate this moment.

FEAST OF St JOHN (S. GIOVANNI) (JUNE 23/24)

June 23 serenades for the feast of S. Giovanni (St John in English). For some years now, an ancient tradition to those who are named Giovanni or Giovanna, has been restored. The tradition was to bring serenades the night before the day of their feast. Groups of players of stringed instruments and accordions let traditional music (sometimes with traditional dance)   resound through the streets for the benefit of the many Giovanni’s and Giovanna’s. The players are often thanked ‘in kind’ by offering local products accompanied by a good glass of wine. The feast of S. Giovanni is on the 24th of June. However, the serenades are the evening before. It’s definitely worthwhile to visit Noci that evening to enjoy the local folk music, have a glass of wine at a terrace and experience this ancient Apulian tradition.

FESTIVAL OF S. ROCCO (1ST SUNDAY OF SEPTEMBER)

S.Rocco is the most revered saint in Noci and the person who appears to have saved the village from the plague. For the most revered saint in Noci, there are illuminations, fireworks and bands to celebrate this festival for three days. After the solemn ceremony on Sunday morning at the Mother Church, the statue of the Saint is carried through the streets of the historic centre, followed by the civil, military and religious authorities and many devotees. The other procession is held the evening of the next day along the streets of the Estramurale (the streets that, in the past, were outside the ramparts). On the following Sunday, the statue is exposed in the square in front of the Mother church, where a solemn mass is celebrated by the Bishop. Soon after, ‘pescetjdde’ (wedges of bread previously blessed) are distributed by tradition.

FEAST OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY AND THE PATRON SAINTS OF ALBEROBELLO (2nd SUNDAY OF OCTOBER)

The second Sunday of October, the solemn celebrations in honour of Our Lady of the Rosary and the Holy Doctors (S. Cosmas and S. Damian, patron saints of Alberobello) take place. There are band concerts, fireworks, illuminations and a convivial atmosphere where the procession is held. On Monday evening, the procession is preceded by flag bearers and knights.

HAPPENINGS AND CULTURAL EVENTS

NOCI SUMMER (JUNE TO SEPTEMBER)

From June to September there is a rich program that is annually renewed, offering a wide range of events that attempt to pander to the tastes and preferences of different age groups. Important attention is given to the local resources and tourists to give them the peace of the town, and to assure a nice stay.

INTERNATIONAL FOLKLORE FESTIVAL (AUGUST)

A traditional event, which renews the sixties, with the presence of important Italian and foreign teams. Organized by the local folk group: ‘Murgia’.

“SPACE FOR ART” 

ACTIVITIES AT THE FORMER TOWN HALL (THROUGHOUT THE YEAR) 

At the former town hall, all through the year, events are organized one after another by the local administration and local associations. Exhibitions of contemporary art, photography exhibitions and documentaries are the most common activities. To find the former town hall, you’ll have to cross the square and take the street in between the two cheese stores. At approximately 100 meters after the entrance of the street, you can find the former town hall at the right side (opposite to an art shop that also regularly has interesting expositions).

NOCICORTINFESTIVAL (AUGUST) 

International Festival of short films produced by the association Nocicinema. A part of this festival takes place near Villa Lavanda, in the field opposite the B&B and at Masseria La Mandra, the neighbouring farm.

EMIGRANT FESTIVAL (AUGUST)

Organized by the Council and the European festivities, in the evening there is a tribute to Nocesi emigrants.

PRIZE “NOCIMIANONTISCORDEROMAI” (AUGUST) 

The award “My Noci, I’ll never forget you”, organized by the homonymous Association, makes an annual tribute to a Nocese who distinguished himself by his own efforts and who gave lustre to the town of Noci.

PAINTING PRIZE “NOCI D’ORO” (AUGUST)

Organized by the Association of Friends that also organizes the prize “Nocimia”. Organized to restore an initiative that started in the sixties by the ‘Pro Loco’ that announced the national prize for painting “Noci d’Oro”. The paintings presented are exposed for a number of days before the ceremony.

SEPTEMBER IN SANTA CHIARA (SEPTEMBER)

By the local cultural association ‘Giuseppe Albanese’, a series of historical conversations entitled “September in Santa Clara” are being held at the Church of Santa Chiara, in the historic centre of the town. The four monthly meetings address topics related to the territory but framed in general contexts.

OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES

JANUARY

– “Space for Art” Activities at the former town hall
– Weekly market (every Tuesday)

FEBRUARY

– “Space for Art” Activities at the former town hall
– Weekly market (every Tuesday)

MARCH

– “Space for Art” Activities at the former town hall
– Weekly market (every Tuesday)
– Evening of Good Friday (Good Friday)

APRIL

– Evening of Good Friday (Good Friday)
– “Space for Art” Activities at the former town hall
– Weekly market (every Tuesday)
– Fair of S. Mary of the Cross (April 30)

MAY

– Festival of Maria SS. Cross (May 2/3/4)
– “Space for Art” Activities at the former town hall
– Weekly market (every Tuesday)
– Festival at the shrine of Our Lady of the Cross (May 31)

JUNE

– Noci Summer
– Fair of S. Antonio (June 10)
– Feast of St. John/S. Giovanni (June 23/24)
– “Space for Art” Activities at the former town hall
– Weekly market (every Tuesday)

JULY

– Noci Summer
– “Space for Art” Activities at the former town hall
– Weekly market (every Tuesday)

AUGUST

– Noci Summer
– International Folklore Festival
– Nocicortin Festival
– Emigrants Festival
– Prize “Nocimianontiscorderomai”
– Painting Prize “Noci d’Oro”
– “Space for Art” Activities at the former town hall
– Weekly market (every Tuesday)

SEPTEMBER

– Noci Summer
– Festival of S. Rocco (1ste Sunday)
– September Fair (September 14)
– September in Santa Chiara
– “Space for Art” Activities at the former town hall
– Weekly market (every Tuesday)

OCTOBER

– Mushroom Festival
– Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary and the patrons of Alberobello
(2nd Sunday)
– “Space for Art” Activities at the former town hall
– Weekly market (every Tuesday)

NOVEMBER

– New Wine Festival “Il Bacco Nelle Gnostre” (Mid-November)
– “Space for Art” Activities at the former town hall
– Weekly market (every Tuesday)

DECEMBER

– Chocolate Festival “Petolle Nelle Gnostre” (Mid-December)
– Fair of the Christ Child (December 19)
– “Space for Art” Activities at the former town hall
– Weekly market (every Tuesday)