In the quiet heart of Sternatia, a small village in the Griko-speaking corner of Puglia, a library becomes the stage for one of the region's most haunting subjects. The presentation of Il ragno, la tela, il manicomio by Roberto Lupo invites you to look at tarantism from an unexpected angle: the asylum.
A spider, a web and a hospital ward
The book's subtitle says it plainly: stories of tarantism in Lecce's psychiatric hospital between 1900 and 1950. Tarantism, the folk phenomenon tied to the legendary bite of the tarantula, is usually remembered through music and dance.
Here the focus shifts to what happened when those same stories met the walls of the manicomio. It is a chapter of local memory that rarely reaches the postcards.
An evening of conversation, not a lecture
The author is joined by Manuel De Carli and Anna Maria Vergine, which suggests a dialogue rather than a monologue. Expect questions, context and the kind of exchange that makes a book presentation feel alive.
The setting helps. A municipal library has a hushed, attentive atmosphere, with shelves at your back and neighbours in the next chair.
- An intimate, small-town setting where it is easy to ask questions
- Three voices on a subject that sits between history, medicine and folklore
- Local memory told by people who know the territory
- A chance to browse the library after the talk
Why Sternatia is the right place
Sternatia is one of the Griko villages, where a Greek-rooted language and customs have long shaped daily life. The event is part of the cultural programme of a network of libraries in the area, which gives it a strongly community feel.
Walking through the village before the talk is part of the experience. Stone houses, quiet lanes and the central square set the right mood for a story about tradition and its shadows.
Making an evening of it
Sternatia sits close to Zollino, Martano, Soleto and Corigliano d'Otranto, each with its own churches and old centres worth a slow wander. Lecce, where the book's story unfolds, is a short drive away. Its baroque streets make a fitting counterpoint the following day.
If tarantism has only ever meant pizzica to you, this is a chance to see the other side. Arrive a little early, take a seat near the front and bring a curious mind. The subject is heavy but the setting is warm.
It is a thoughtful outing for anyone interested in local history, whether you come alone, as a couple or with a group of friends. You will leave with a deeper sense of the land beyond the beaches.