AMA Ischia di Castro (Art, Music, Craftsmanship)

A festival that brings the whole village to life

AMA — Art, Music, Craftsmanship is the most iconic summer event in Ischia di Castro, a small town in the province of Viterbo, in the heart of the upper Tuscia region of Lazio. For three days, usually during the last weekend of July, the medieval historic center is closed to traffic and returned to pedestrians: narrow streets, arches, old workshop basements, and small squares become exhibition spaces and stages. There is no single focal point for the festival: you walk, explore, wander back and forth, and every corner holds something different.

Craftsmanship at the center

The heart of the event is the craft market, which in recent editions has featured over sixty exhibitors. Potters, basket weavers, leather, wood, and wrought-iron workers, goldsmiths, weavers, and jewelry makers come from all over Tuscia and neighboring regions. Many work live in front of the public: it is one of the best opportunities in this part of Lazio to see artistic trades in action rather than just the finished product.

Music, street performance, and entertainment

In the evening, the village lights up. Different squares host various musical acts — cover bands, folk groups, singer-songwriters, and DJ sets — so that as you stroll, you experience a variety of genres and atmospheres. Accompanying the concerts are street performers: fire-eaters, stilt walkers, jugglers, magic shows, and circus acts, with moments designed specifically for children, from face painting to entertainment in the early hours of the evening.

Archaeology and landscape

AMA is not just about evening entertainment. During the day, the program offers guided tours to sites that tell the history of the area: the Civic Museum of Ischia di Castro, the Hermitage of Poggio Conte with its rock-hewn architecture carved into the tuff, and the area of the ancient city of Castro, the capital of the Farnese duchy destroyed in 1649 and now an archaeological site immersed in greenery. In past editions, mountain bike excursions have also been organized in the surrounding natural areas, between the Selva del Lamone and the Fiora valley.

The taste of Tuscia

Along the route, you will find food stalls managed by local associations: here you can taste typical products of the Viterbo area, from Maremma Lazio cheeses to cured meats, from extra virgin olive oil from the hills to traditional peasant dishes, accompanied by local wines. Eating while standing in the square between one concert and another is part of the experience.

Who organizes it

The festival is promoted by the Municipality of Ischia di Castro together with the Pro Loco and local associations, with the patronage of the Province of Viterbo and the Lazio Region. Admission to the event and the shows is traditionally free: you only pay for what you consume at the food stalls and what you buy from the artisans.

Why it's worth the trip

• An entire village pedestrianized and illuminated for three evenings
• Authentic craftsmanship with live demonstrations
• Music spread across multiple squares, with no entry fee
• Guided tours to lesser-known rock-hewn and archaeological sites
• Tuscia cuisine at local festival prices