In the heart of Specchia, one of Puglia's most enchanting hilltop villages, the atrium of Palazzo Risolo transforms into an open-air concert hall for a tribute to the legendary Ennio Morricone. This isn't your typical summer concert — it's an intimate dialogue between jazz and cinema, unfolding beneath centuries-old stone arches where every note reverberates with history.
When Cinema Meets Jazz Under the Stars
The quartet — Alberto Di Leone on trumpet and flugelhorn, Antonio Laviero at the piano, Antonello Losacco on electric bass, and Cesare Pastanella on drums and percussion — reimagines Morricone's iconic scores through the lens of jazz improvisation. The genius of C'era una volta (Once Upon a Time) becomes something entirely new: spontaneous, conversational, alive.
The palazzo's courtyard provides extraordinary acoustics, where each trumpet flourish and piano run gains depth from the surrounding stone. As dusk falls over Specchia's white-washed buildings, the music carries through narrow alleys, drawing locals and visitors alike into its spell.
The Soul of Specchia After Sunset
Specchia itself is a revelation — a perfectly preserved medieval village perched high in the Serre Salentine hills, recognized among Italy's most beautiful borghi. The walk to Palazzo Risolo takes you through labyrinthine streets where bougainvillea spills over ancient doorways and grandmothers sit on stone benches exchanging the day's news.
The palazzo sits at the village's historic core, its Renaissance architecture a testament to the noble families who once governed these lands. Tonight, its courtyard becomes a gathering place where tradition and innovation shake hands, where the boundary between performer and audience softens in the warm summer air.
What Makes This Evening Unforgettable
- Intimate setting: the palazzo's atrium seats limited numbers, creating a salon-like atmosphere where you're close enough to see the musicians' expressions
- Acoustic magic: Renaissance stone walls amplify and warm the sound in ways modern concert halls can't replicate
- Cinematic repertoire: from The Mission to Cinema Paradiso, Morricone's most beloved themes reimagined through jazz improvisation
- Village ambiance: arriving early lets you explore Specchia's castle, churches, and panoramic viewpoints before the concert
- Post-concert wandering: nearby trattorias serve local specialties like ciceri e tria and pasticciotto into the late hours
Your Evening in the Hilltop Village
Arrive with time to spare — Specchia rewards slow exploration. Climb to the castle ruins for sunset views that stretch from the Ionian to the Adriatic, then descend through flower-draped alleys as the village lights begin to glow. The concert typically begins as twilight deepens, when the day's heat gives way to pleasant evening breezes.
After the final notes fade, the village doesn't sleep. Locals gather in the piazza for gelato and conversation, and the bars along Via Umberto stay open late. This is Puglia at its most authentic — where world-class culture unfolds in centuries-old spaces, and every visitor is invited to join the rhythm of village life.