In the heart of San Gregorio, where whitewashed stone meets centuries-old civic pride, Piazza Valiani transforms into an open-air concert hall for Il Mio Canto Libero. This isn't a stadium show or a ticketed festival — it's a genuine piazza performance where three guitarists known as LE 13 bring acoustic storytelling to a community that still gathers outdoors after sunset.
Three Strings, One Voice
LE 13 is an all-female trio, and their sound is as intricate as it is raw. Three classical guitars weave together in counterpoint, creating melodies that echo off the stone facades surrounding the square. The repertoire ranges from Italian classics to contemporary arrangements, each piece delivered with precision and warmth that only acoustic instruments can achieve.
This is music meant to be heard live, where you can watch fingers dance across fretboards and catch the glances exchanged between players mid-phrase. The intimacy of the trio format means every note matters, and every silence speaks.
The Piazza as Stage
Piazza Valiani is one of those central squares that define small-town Puglia. Locals pull up chairs from nearby cafés, families spread blankets on the worn stone, and visitors stumble into the performance while wandering the labyrinth of narrow streets that radiate from the square. There's no velvet rope, no assigned seating — just a communal sense of occasion.
The square's natural acoustics, shaped by centuries-old architecture, amplify the guitars without the need for heavy amplification. On warm evenings, the music drifts through open windows and spills into side alleys, drawing people out of their homes.
What to Expect
- Acoustic purity — three nylon-string guitars, no backing tracks, no effects pedals
- A standing-and-sitting crowd — bring a light blanket or arrive early for a café chair with a view
- Spontaneous encores — if the applause is loud enough, the trio often extends the set
- Local flavor — between songs, you'll hear the trio banter in Pugliese dialect
- Street-food vendors — look for carts selling panzerotti and gelato at the square's edges
Making a Night of It
San Gregorio sits in the rural interior of Puglia, a few kilometers from the Adriatic coast and surrounded by olive groves that glow silver in the moonlight. Arrive an hour before the concert to explore the town's historic center — the Chiesa Matrice and its bell tower offer a snapshot of Baroque devotion, while the side streets hide family-run trattorie serving orecchiette alle cime di rapa.
After the performance, the square often stays lively. Locals linger over amaro and conversation, and visitors are welcomed into the circle. If you're driving, the coastal towns of Torre dell'Orso and San Foca are just fifteen minutes away — perfect for a late-night stroll by the water to let the music settle in your memory.