Sagra te lu Purpu

A.G.A.M. is a recreational and sport non-profit association, dedicated to social development with a mission to promote the value of all natural and artistic resources in Melendugno. Every year, from 2^nd to 5^th of August, the SAGRA TE LU PURPU takes place thanks to contribution of Apulia Region, Province of Lecce, Chamber of commerce of Lecce and Municipality of Melendugno. You can enjoy this event which takes place in Melendugno near the football ground, not far from secular olive trees of the beautiful Salento countryside; the amazing seasides in Torre dell’Orso, San Foca, Torre Sant’Andrea and the archaeological site in Roca Vecchia. This event covers an area of 5.000 sq.m.

Purpu is the local dialect word for octopus: a large cephalopod mollusk, whose proportion between brain weight and body weight is the highest in the world of marine creatures. However, its most appreciated features are the organoleptic properties of its meat, which combine well with the ancient tradition of Salento gastronomy and, especially, popular dishes from Melendugno.

During this amazing four-night event, you can taste many delicious octopus dishes: boiled octopus (a kind of seafood salad), octopus with strozzapreti (a kind of hand-made pasta with sauce), octopus alla pignata (with tomatoes and potatoes cooked in a terracotta pan), fried octopus and fried octopus meat balls. However, there is a variety of local food. You can find many other dishes belonging to Salento gastronomic tradition: pittule (fried balls of a dough made with flour, salt and water); bruschette (local grilled bread with fresh tomatoes); pezzetti alla pignata (horse meat with tomato sauce cooked in a terracotta pan); roast meat, sausages, hot dog and chips.

Now in its 13^th edition, the sagra is the most important event in Melendugno during the summer and it is very appreciated in the rest of Salento. Even if the octopus dishes are the main attraction along with plenty of beer on tap and wine, you can enjoy many amazing musical events. Important music bands at national and international level have been playing for years. They are Modena City Ramblers, Disco Inferno, Radici nel Cemento, Banda Bassotti, Nidi d’Arac; as well as important local bands of pizzica music: Alla Bua, Tamburellisti di Torre Paduli, Aramirè, Uccio Aloisi, Scianari, Tammurria, Terre Neure, Lu Rusciu Nosciu, ecc.

Our association has always paid attention to the spectacular aspect of this gastronomic event. So, in order to make children happier, we put a very big plastic air octopus along the main road from Lecce to S. Foca and now it represents the symbol of the whole event.

To accommodate our guests we provide more than a thousand seats and a very large car park.