It takes off Saturday 21 Marchin Sternatia (Lecce), the 2026 edition of “Songs of Passion – Ce Custi o Gaddho na Cantalisi”, one of the most evocative events dedicated to the rites of Holy Week in Southern Italy. A journey that intertwines spirituality, culture and identity, giving the public the profound sense of a tradition that is renewed every year in the villages of Grecìa Salentina.
The first appointment is scheduled for 5.30pm with a thematic itinerary that leads from the Church of San Vito to the Mother Church. A path through alleys, churches and symbolic places, designed to tell the story of popular devotion and the history of these territories, where Grika culture still represents a distinctive element today. The In Punta di Tacco APS Cultural Association will guide the visitors, as part of the “Borghi della Passione” project. The visits, free upon reservation, offer a precious opportunity to rediscover the local spiritual and artistic heritage.
The central moment of the day is scheduled for 7pm, with an intense performance of devotional songs that will unfold from church of San Vito up to the church of Maria SS. Assumption. The protagonists will be brotherhoods, musicians and singers linked to the Salento tradition, accompanied by exceptional guests such as the Archconfraternity of the SS. Sacrament of Minori, guardian of ancient rites of Holy Week. Their melodies, handed down over the centuries, still manage to deeply involve the listener today, making them participate in the mystery celebrated.
The exhibition, promoted byUnion of Municipalities of Grecìa Salentina with the contribution of important cultural realities of the territory, it develops from March 21st to April 1st with twelve days of events, fifteen appointments and over 350 artists involved. Artistically directed by Antonio Melegari, the 2026 edition broadens its focus, combining the songs with the valorisation of local places and food and wine traditions.
“Canti di Passione” is not just a musical festival, but a real spiritual and cultural journey that crosses the twelve municipalities of the Grecìa Salentinawith special stages also in Lecce and Alessano. Here, the narrative of the Passion of Christ finds expression in the popular grika poetry, made up of sounds, gestures and words capable of evoking a deep and shared pathos. A tradition that resists over time thanks to the commitment of scholars, cultural operators and local communities, and which continues to live in the squares, churchyards and convents of these villages.
Alongside the events, a gastronomic journey inspired by Lent also takes shape. With the “Passion Menu”, local restaurateurs offer traditional peasant and lean dishes, in a complete offer at a discounted price. A concrete way to rediscover authentic flavors and rediscover the link between faith, territory and conviviality.
In a time when we often risk losing the sense of roots, initiatives like this remind us how much shared memory can still speak to the present, offering opportunities for meeting, reflection and beauty. The “Songs of Passion” thus become not just an event, but an experience that involves the soul and restores the value of a faith lived in the community.
