The great Focara of Novoli Lecce
The great Focara of Novoli Lecce
The ritual of fire that has been handed down for centuries has been renewed, last night in Novoli, a small town in the province of Lecce, in a blaze of lights and colors. The focara is formed by at least 90000 bundles of wooden twigs, has a diameter of about 20 meters and can reach a height of about 25 meters, the work for the composition of the structure, begins already in the first days of December. In addition to that of Novoli, hundreds of bonfires are built throughout the Salento, especially in winter, to warm the cold nights of pilgrims on the day of the village festival.
The most awaited moment, greeted by the applause of the crowd, was preceded and followed by processions, fireworks and music.
For a long time now the intimate dimension of the recollection of a small community, that of Novoli, around the figure of its patron, Sant'Antonio Abate, Focara has increasingly transformed in these years in a show that goes beyond the narrow local borders, becoming one of the main vehicles of the Salento image in the world.
Walter Taurino
Communication & Media Hotel delle Palme‹
›17/01/1910 Photos - View album
