What a wonder! The sky is colored with magic: the Canyon Balloon Festival returns

By Pierandrea Fanigliulo

An experiential tourism from a dual perspective capable, in both cases, of giving unique emotions. There are those who will remain with their noses up admiring the skies coloring with a thousand colors, thanks to the hot air balloons that will traverse it like suspended choruses; while others will look at the World from above, thus experiencing the thrill of flying, floating, carried by the magical dance of a hot air balloon. In both cases, the third edition of the Canyon Balloon Festival – A Breath of Mediterranean, the event that from October 10 to 19 will transform the Land of Gravines into a stage suspended between sky and horizon. Ten days of emotions, with five spectacular stops in the municipalities of Mottola, Castellaneta, Ginosa, Laterza and Corato.

There will be twenty hot air balloons coming from all over Europe to sail the Apulian skies, offering a unique show at dawn and sunset. Among gravines, farmhouses, and centuries-old olive groves, the flights will take place simultaneously, giving residents and tourists an unforgettable experience immersed in the breathtaking landscapes of the Regional Natural Park Land of Gravines.

But the Canyon Balloon Festival – A Breath of Mediterranean is not just a spectacular event: it is an invitation to experience Apulia slowly and consciously. The program offers gastronomic experiences, live music, workshops for adults and children, as well as walks and nature trails dedicated to discovering the territory. All in the name of sustainability, environmental protection, and inclusion.

The festival, in fact, pays special attention to people with sensory disabilities, thanks to dedicated flights carried out in collaboration with local volunteer associations. A concrete way to make flying accessible to everyone, strengthening the social soul of a project that celebrates the authentic and welcoming beauty of inland Apulia.

Highlighting the growth of the initiative was Francesco Ruggieri, head of Hot Air Balloons in Southern Italy and organizer of the festival: “In 2025, the number of hot air balloons doubled compared to last year, going from ten to twenty crews from all over Europe. The goal is to make the wonders of Apulia known to international pilots, so they become ambassadors of the region in the Mediterranean and beyond. With an eye already turned to the future, the hope is to see the number of crews grow even further in the coming years, making the Land of Gravines an increasingly sought-after destination in the world of hot air ballooning, especially in view of the Mediterranean Games in Taranto 2026.”

Promoted by the Puglia Region – Department of Tourism, with the support of A.R.E.T. Pugliapromozione and the Department of Tourism, the festival is organized by the Consortium Landing on South Italy – Hot Air Balloons in Southern Italy in collaboration with the hosting municipalities.

The grand finale is scheduled for Sunday, October 19 with the evocative event “Night Glow Balloons – A Breath of Light”, a night show that will see 20 illuminated hot air balloons dancing to the rhythm of music. It will be the most exciting moment of the 2025 Balloon Festival, when the sky of Apulia will become a mosaic of lights, sounds, and wonder.