Colorful and spectacular light installations are a huge thing in South Italy and especially in Apulia. Every city lights up the streets with unique and wonderful lights during every holiday, events, and on the celebrations of the city saints.
The most impressive "light set up" is without a doubt in Scorrano, a small city of 7000 inhabitants in the province of Lecce in Apulia. The incomparable way of celebrating the saint protector of their city, “Santa Domenica”, makes it the worldwide capital of illumination. Millions of lamps and lights are paired with futuristic technology; the event is always a huge success and about 400.000 people from all over the world come every year to witness it. The small city gained a lot of fame due to its spectacular light sculptures during the Santa Domenica day, which usually takes place every year from the 5th to the 8th of July.
Four of the biggest light companies in the world, all with an apulian origin, challenge each other in the historical center of this small town. This event however, used to take place even before the time of electricity. Back then, they used to put together arcs and wood structures with oil lamps, which later became petrol and finally electric lamps. Nowadays, the materials used to build those structures and scaffoldings that are taller than 30 meters, are connected through an iron wire without a single nail, screw or bolt. This special way of craftmanship makes it possible to transform the city into a magical & colorful land for 5 days.
Each piece of unique architecture has special light shows, accompanied by a suitable background music, that enchants all visitors by making it impossible to look away.
Santa Domenica in Scorrano
73020 Scorrano, Lecce, ItalienThe surrounding area has many wonderful beaches, so it's perfect and recommended to combine a relaxed summer getaway in July with this amazing and surely unforgettable event.
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The author
Sandra Marx
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