The Night of the Tarantula – Melpignano

24 August 2024. the most famous night of the popular traditional Salento music

“La Notte della Taranta” (The Night of the Taranta) is the big concert focused on the traditional popular music of Salento area that takes place on August 24th 2024 in Melpignano, where people dance till dawn.
This year it is celebrating its 27th edition

What is the origin of the name?
According to popular traditions, the bite of “taranta” (the tarantula spider) provokes a form of hysteric behaviour characterized by excitability and restlessness.
The victims of the spider (tarantulees) had to engage in frenzied dancing to prevent death from tarantism.

This peculiar kind of dance called the tarantella, is accompanied with a particular genre of music (pizzica) and was considered a cure for the tarantism.
In order to find the right rhythm that could be able to heal the victim, several musical instruments were involved, one of them was the tambourine.

Every year nearly 300.000 tourists come to Salento to take part in the “Notte della Taranta”.

INFORMATION
Fondazione la Notte della Taranta
See the website>>>
Tel. +39 0836439008
See also the facebook page>>>

CURIOSITIES
From the legend of Tarantula, in Italy the quote “have you been bitten by a tarantula?” is still used nowadays addressed to those who are considered unnecessarily agitated.

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And find also a selection of further events or places to visit in Apulia>>>