INAUGURAL CONCERT:

AUGUST 4

RICHARD GALLIANO

 Rencontres

music by Sollima, Galliano, J.S. Bach, Piazzolla

Richard Galliano accordion + Ensemble ’05

double set:

at sunset 8:00 pm / evening 10:00 pm

AUGUST 5

sunset concert at 20.00

ENRICO BRONZI & FRANCESCA SPERANDEO

#Beethoven 250

recital for cello and piano

music by L.van Beethoven and S.Prokofiev

AUGUST 5

evening concert at 22.00

SONGS OF AMERICA

Hemisphaeria trio

Damiana Mizzi, soprano

Roberto Mansueto, cello

Marcos Madrigal, piano

Music by Previn, Bernstein, Piazzolla

6 & 7 AUGUST

single time at 21.00

FRANZ SCHUBERT: Octet!

Enrico Bronzi + Ensemble ’05

AUGUST 8

sunset concert at 20.00

SONGS OF AMERICA

Hemisphaeria trio

Damiana Mizzi, soprano

Roberto Mansueto, cello

Marcos Madrigal, piano

Music by Previn, Bernstein, Piazzolla

AUGUST 8

evening concert at 22.00

ENRICO BRONZI & FRANCESCA SPERANDEO

recital for cello and piano

Music by J.Brahms and Prokofiev

SALES:

online

www.ritrattifestival.it

From July 15th:

promo packages available in the section: "Subscriptions" email: info@ritrattifestival.it

From July 20:

ArteSuono, Piazza S. Antonio, 34/35 Monopoli

&

Tourist Info-Point, via Garibaldi, 24 Monopoli

every day from 10:00 to 20: oo

Music and luminaries, but also bruschetta festival typical desserts and artisan ice cream.

The 14th, 15th and 16th of August are the most eagerly awaited days for Monopoli celebrations for historical cultural and tourist aspects. It is the commemoration of the landing of the Sacred icon of Madonna della Madia. The event is repeated twice a year, in August and the night between 15th and 16th of December, when at dawn, according to tradition, at the port, landed a raft with byzantine icon of the Virgin Mary, after called della Madia because the raft recalled a “Madia” (sideboard) on which bread is raised.

On the south coast of Monopoli, in Losciale district takes place the roasted octopus fair, between the two historic farms: Pittore and Losciale (Meo Evoli), completes the celebrations live music and fireworks.

In contrada Antonelli takes place the fried pancake and orecchiette fair served hot and sprinkled with fresh tomato sauce and cheese.

Established in 1997 by Pro Loco, on the occasion of the return of the statue of the Saint in the original place, at the bottom of the ancient civic tower in Piazza Garibaldi. It is an important moment of aggregation, marking the rediscovery of the Neapolitan culture. The celebration dissipates any doubt about the ownership of the Saint returned to his place after a long restoration.

Porchetta fair

The church of San Domenico hosts the solemn celebrations in honour of San Cosma and Damiano. It is the second celebration of the year dedicated to the Holy Doctors and takes place at the same time as the most famous one of Alberobello. In this occasion Piazza XX Settembre shines with sparkling lights all around.

From the evening of the 12th, a numerous series of stalls crowd via Cavour a market more then five hundred yards long, takes place until the church front, the festival is dedicated to the saint martyr protector of eyesight. The festival is particularly felt among the locals as it introduces the December festive season (in which is included the veneration day of Maria SS. della Madia). The market goes on all night, with visitors from very early hours in the morning,  carrying out the very first Christmas shopping, but especially to buy statues and decorations for the Crib and nativity representation, the tradition includes the purchase of terracotta pots and pans and the “Coccheriddi” (small decorative terracotta bowls and pots).

5:30 A.M. sea festival, arrival at port of Monopoli of the miraculous raft of Our Lady of Madia (Byzantine sacred icon of Ogeditria Virgin) which, according to tradition, docked on the night of the 16th of December 1117 and whose beams were used to complete the Cathedral’s roof works.

Repeatedly since 1951 in Contrada Antonelli, (village not far from Monopoli), the youngsters from the local parish church, Santuario Maria Regina, put up an animated performance of the arrival of the three Kings in front of the grotto.

SATURDAY JANUARY 18 | HOURS 18.30

Giancarlo De Cataldo together with the director Nicola Calocero

“A tight mystery. Journey into the world of crime "

THURSDAY 20 FEBRUARY | HOURS 18.30

Concita De Gregorio

"The game of the world: the invisible army of those who are 30 today"

SATURDAY MARCH 21 | HOURS 18.30

Alessandro Robecchi

“Souls in pain. What old Philip Marlowe taught us "

FRIDAY 3 APRIL | HOURS 18.30

Marco Malvaldi

"The architect of the imagination: how to write stories that remain"

The celebrations of Saint Joseph, patron of all artisans has ancient origins. Saint Joseph is worshiped in San Leonardo’s church in the old section of the town. It is tradition to set up bonfires all over town and in the countryside villages surrounding Monopoli, and on the occasion very often you get offered local products, local meats and chickpeas.

Established around 1358, the fair began on the occasion of the Lord announcement and lasted for eight days. Today the fair lasts only one day and takes place in the area between the town gardens, the port, largo Plebiscito and via Garibaldi. It’s an opportunity to make shopping of any kind.

On Good Friday evening takes place one of the oldest and most evocative events:  Good Friday procession attended by many city confraternities. A very heartfelt procession, during which, statues, symbols of the moment of Christ’s Passion are carried on shoulders by the confreres accompanied by the sinister sound of “troccole”. Another very heartfelt rite of the Holy Week it is to pay visit to various sepulchres of Christ throughout many churches.

Eucharistic celebrations take place inside the church and outside the parish are aligned various market stalls.

Procession of the scared icon of the Virgin Mary through the neighbourhood, and in the evening fair of “zucchini alla poverella” (sundried courgette rondels, fried and served with oil, vinegar and mint.

Celebration in honour of San Michele Arcangelo, the village is adorned with illumination around the parish square dedicated to the Saint, in the evening panzerotto fair.

The village is reachable after 8km on the SP237 in direction to Castellana Grotte, diverting to the right for about 1.5km.

Between the end of May and the beginning of June, Monopoli celebrates SS Cosma and Damiano, also known as the doctors Saints, the statues are located in Saint Domenico’s church, the best expression of baroque art in Monopoli historic centre. The central street of Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II is embellished by colourful lights. Among the features of the festival in addition to the typical stalls, worth a mention are the Madonnari, street artists who represent saints on the road surface with chalks and sponges.

Celebrated on the 13th of June in the square in front of the church also known as Santa Maria delle Grazie.

All together around the dinner table at home or in restaurants, the locals wait until the midnight, eating spaghetti with a special sauce with olives, capers and anchovies called Pasta alla San Giovanni; just a good opportunity to party along friends and family in the city, countryside and along the coast.

Colourful lights are displayed from the parish church of Sacro Cuore up to Piazza Falcone e Borsellino while live music is performed to animate the evenings. This is the fair of fried fish, youngsters compete within each other for the first prize between the wards of neighbourhood close to the parish church. Together with the above there is the children’s festival and the procession with statues of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The free-range chicken festival, in Cozzana, opens the summer season. The association of Madonna del Rosario is committed to promote the territory and culture of the district through gastronomy and entertainments.

Festival of panzerotto and pancakes organized by the culturel association of Madonna del Rosario.

In the nearby vicinity of the recent parish church dedicated to Our Lady’s Mother, takes place the panzerotti fair enhanced by lights and music.

Switch on of the lights of the sacred icon of Madonna della Madia (patron of Monopoli), set on the bell tower of the Cathedral, and live music.

To celebrate Santa Lucia,  which the district is dedicated to, are set up street lights, musical entertainment, fireworks and focaccia fair.