Murgia Pizzica and Tarantella Dance Class: Learn Tradition

Dance the rhythms that once cured the tarantula's bite

Learn the Pizzica and Tarantella, the traditional dances of Puglia, in a 2.5-hour class set among centuries-old olive trees in the Murgia countryside. A live guide teaches you the double step, the role of the scarf, and the stories behind the ritual that was believed to cure the bite of the local black widow spider. The class ends with a tasting of local wine, food and water.

The experience

The Murgia landscape is your dance floor: centuries-old olive trees and open countryside frame the class as your guide walks you through the Pizzica-Pizzica and Tarantella step by step. These are not abstract movements. Each gesture carries a story: the scarf that signals distress, the circles that build toward crescendo, the double step that mimics the frantic energy of someone poisoned by the tarantula spider. You learn the history alongside the rhythm: how this dance was the only cure available to men and women in Puglia centuries ago, how it became a ritual, and how modern research has uncovered the real phenomenon behind the legend.

The guide teaches in English or Italian, and tambourines and scarves are provided so you move with the actual instruments. Wear a long skirt or long dress (white, red and black are the traditional colors), and leave the flip-flops behind. The physical steps are accessible to all fitness levels, and the setting itself is designed to recreate the atmosphere of the time when this dance was born. After the dancing, you sit down to a restorative tasting: local wine, typical food, water and coffee or tea, a moment to catch your breath and absorb what you have learned.

What’s included

• Instruction from a live guide in English or Italian.
• tambourines and scarves.
• bottled water.
• a tasting of local wine, typical food, coffee and tea.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 13 May 2027

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Youth (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Simona Ciccarese

Is this one for you?Join a small group learning together in the Murgia countryside, with a live guide teaching the steps and stories. This suits anyone who wants to move and learn at the same time, in an outdoor setting where the landscape itself is part of the experience.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is the Tarantula dance and why was it created?

The Tarantella and Pizzica-Pizzica were born as a ritual cure in Puglia for the bite of the local black widow spider, the tarantula. Men and women believed the only way to survive the poison was to dance themselves into a trance, moving in circles and building to a crescendo until the venom was released. The dance carries that history in every step and gesture, and the guide explains the stories and legends passed down through centuries.

Do I need to know how to dance to join this class?

No. The guide teaches the steps from the beginning, and the class is designed for all physical fitness levels. You learn the double step, the rhythm and the meaning of each movement as you go, with tambourines and scarves in hand to feel the authentic practice.

What should I wear to the dance class?

Wear a long skirt or long dress. White, red and black are the traditional colors of the dance. Do not wear flip-flops. The long skirt is part of the authentic movement and helps you feel the rhythm of the dance.

What happens after the dancing ends?

After 2.5 hours of learning and dancing, you sit down to a tasting of local wine, typical Puglian food, water, and coffee or tea. It is a restorative moment to relax and reflect on what you have learned in the Murgia countryside.