Festival of San Giorgio in Matino

St. George has always been the symbol of good conquering evil.

He is the patron of the small town of Matino, which entrusted to the saint for having saved the community from a terrible plague. It was his miraculous intervention that led to safety many lives, including those of many a children, taking them away from certain death. Located in the province of Lecce, situated in a very strategic point of Salento, at about 40 km from the capital, 12km from Gallipoli and just over 3km from Casarano, it is one of the most fervent economic and commercial town.

The community of Matino has been celebrating St. George since 1867, renewing every year with lavish celebrations, the devotion to the gallant knight who proved his worth by defeating the terrible dragon. The legend, in fact, tells us that in a big pond of a Libyan city lived a fearsome dragon killing the inhabitants of the city with fire coming out from his nostrils.

The population, terrified, in an attempt to appease the wrath of the monster, sacrificed two sheep a day. Soon the animals began to run low and the population found itself forced to feed the monster with two young men randomly chosen, to satisfy the hunger of the dragon. One day, it was just the same daughter of the king who was randomly picked, but when the princess had to approach the beast, the brave George intervened, fearless and contemptuous of danger, transfixed the dragon with his sword, saving the city and the king's daughter. In return George asked for the conversion of the inhabitants to Christianity , so it happened.

This is the reason why the festivities, in honor of San Giorgio, take place twice a year. The first on February 27 with the procession commemorating the anniversary of the miracle. The second in the month of April, the most celebrated, taking place from the 22nd to 25th that gives life to Matino with a series of religious and civil events, among which the procession "Intorciata" that runs through the village streets with the statue of the saint, accompanied by the Municipal Band.