Feast of Santa Domenica in Scorrano: the world capital of illuminations
Scorrano lights up for Santa Domenica: the heart of Salento shines with its own light
Every year, from 5 to 10 July , the village of Scorrano , in Salento, is transformed into an open-air stage where faith, art, technology and entertainment merge.
The celebration in honor of Santa Domenica is much more than a patronal event: it is an immersive experience that fascinates visitors from all over the world.
Scorrano is internationally recognized as the “world capital of illuminations” – and for good reason.
The Origins: Between Miracle, Devotion and Light
According to legend, Saint Domenica appeared in a dream to a woman of the village during an epidemic, promising healing.
As a sign of the miracle, oil lamps were lit in the homes of the healed.
Those small lights of faith have transformed, over time, into imposing luminous structures , today created by the masters of Salento and known throughout the world.
Program 2025 – Feast of Santa Domenica
📅 Dates: 5–10 July 2025
📍 Scorrano, province of Lecce (Salento)
Main events:
- July 5th – Night of Lights : inaugural lighting of the lights
- July 6 – Procession of the Saint , fireworks and choreographed lighting (9:00 pm)
- From 7th to 10th July – concerts, street food, folk shows, craft markets
Two souls, one identity
The strength of the Scorrano festival lies in its perfect combination of spirituality and spectacle :
-Religious: the solemn procession passes through the historic center, accompanied by prayers, songs and sacred fires, with the statue of Santa Domenica carried on the shoulders.
-Artistic: every evening, a collective countdown precedes the lighting. The town turns off… then lights up to the rhythm of the music. Pure emotion.
The lights: Salento art between tradition and avant-garde
Scorrano does not host simple decorations, but real cathedrals of light , up to 25 meters high. Designed with scenographic precision, each installation is a fusion between:
- Complex architectural structures : arches, rose windows, castles, tunnels
- RGB LED technologies and DMX systems
- Audio-light synchronization software
- Symphonic, lyrical, electronic music
The result? A choreography of lights that excites and tells a story . A dream for photographers, tourists, Apulian families and lovers of popular traditions.
Historical works: 1956 and the eternal elegance
Among the most iconic installations:
Feast of St. Domenica Scorrano (1950):
Totem Candelabra (1956):
Petali Gallery (1965): floral and symbolic structure, an example of luminous classicism
MarianoLight and the innovation that changed history
MarianoLight is the absolute protagonist of the evolution of the festival. His pioneering installations have rewritten the rules of light art:
-2007 – First dynamic RGB installation with DMX software: the lights become alive, changeable, reactive. A new visual language.
-2015 – For the first time, light and music synchronize in an engaging scenography. The audience stops, listens, is moved.
-2018 – First interactive installation with touch sensors and 3D audio. A visitor turns on a million lights from his smartphone. Thanks to the ArtLight app, light becomes personal. Never before.
The installations designed by MarianoLight have contributed to making the Festival a point of reference for artists, lighting engineers and designers from all over the world.
Bring the atmosphere of Scorrano into your home or event
Want to relive that magic every day?
On our shop you will find decorative lights inspired by the Salento festivals :
-Ideal for private events , wedding planners , outdoor and indoor spaces
-Made in Salento , with the same artisanal attention as the large installations
Discover the complete collection
An icon of Made in Italy
Scorrano has become an international symbol of light art. His installations have been filmed by foreign television, photographed by design magazines, and inspire new creations all over the world every year.