Eyes of Santa Lucia in Bari: Where to Find Them and How Much They Cost
Ancient glazed taralli linked to Christmas, now rarely found: a local specialty that survives in Apulian tradition
The Occhi di Santa Lucia are an old Christmas treat from Bari. They're hard to find now. After trying several bakeries in the city, I found them on Via Quintino Sella. They cost 10 € per kg.
These are small sweet taralli covered with a white glaze made from sugar and egg whites. They're linked to the Santa Lucia festival on December 13 and Bari's Christmas tradition.
A Bari treat that's becoming rare
Once, Occhi di Santa Lucia were made at home and in bakeries. They appeared on Christmas tables with nougat, castagnelle, and [cartellate pugliesi]().
Today, they're much less common. Finding them wasn't easy: many bakeries don't make them anymore. It's a time-consuming process.
The recipe also varies by region. In the Bari version, egg white is used to whiten the glaze. In other areas, you might find larger taralli, versions without egg white, or flavored ones, like with anise.
Increased focus on diet and calories probably made us avoid sweets like this. But at least at Christmas, it's nice to make exceptions and rediscover a tradition that might disappear.
