The birth of Tarantism-

City of Lecce stone is an illustrious example of the Mother Church dedicated to Peter and Paul, in late Baroque style. Even the paved stone streets are clear and bright and lead us in front of noble palaces such as the 16th century Palazzo Ducale and Palazzo Orsini which has become the seat of the Town Hall. The most important attraction is the Chapel of San Paolo where the wild dance called Taranta would have originated. The myth tells of the evangelization journey of the Apostles Peter and Paul, when some women of Galatina hosted the Saint. He as a sign of gratitude lavished healing for those who, pinched by the poisonous spider, would have drunk from the well and made the sign of the Cross on the wound. From this story a ritual of exorcism is born that occurs every year on June 29, the symbolic date of the wheat harvest, when it was common to be stung. Unbridled dancing represents gratitude in which agitation is the atonement from pain and afflictions. The musicians make the rounds around the woman who wildly indulges in the fast pace of the music, in front of a crowd of onlookers. Equally ancient is the African, a confectionery product also called Apostle's finger. Elongated in shape, it is an egg-based protein dish that requires long kneading and cooking and that was sent to Italian soldiers during the African campaign.