Amenanos Festival – Cycle of Classical Greek and Latin Performances

The myth returns to the stage in Catania

The Amenanos Festival is the premier classical Greek and Latin theatre festival in the city of Catania, Sicily. It takes its name from the Amenano, the ancient river that flows beneath Catania and gives the city its mythical identity. The event takes place in the extraordinary Greco-Roman Theatre on Via Vittorio Emanuele II, one of the most fascinating ancient monuments in the historic centre, bringing the tragedies of the ancient world back to the very place they were born.

A festival of ancient theatre

Founded in 2019 by the DIDE Cultural Association led by Michele Di Dio, the festival presents titles from the Greek and Latin repertoire each season: tragedies by Aeschylus, Euripides, and Seneca, as well as modern reinterpretations of myth that engage with the present. The productions are entrusted to nationally acclaimed directors and companies, with Daniele Salvo directing several works and a cast that includes performers such as Melania Giglio, Michele Lisi, and Giancarlo Latina.

Amenanos Neos: the festival for youth

A special section, Amenanos Neos, is dedicated to schools: a national competition involving theatre workshops from high schools, invited to perform classical texts in the same Ancient Theatre. It is a project of great educational value, bringing new generations closer to Greek theatre and the region's cultural heritage.

Beyond Catania

Over the years, the festival has developed a dimension that extends beyond the city limits: the performances at the Greco-Roman Theatre are complemented by events at other Sicilian archaeological sites, such as the Morgantina park, and international tours of the Nostos project in Greece, Spain, and Bulgaria, bringing Sicilian classical theatre to iconic sites of Mediterranean antiquity.

A unique experience

Attending a Greek tragedy among the stones of the Ancient Theatre of Catania, at sunset and under the stars, is an experience that weaves together performance, archaeology, and memory. Today, the Amenanos Festival is one of the most anticipated events in the Catanian cultural calendar and a precious opportunity to rediscover classical myth in the heart of Sicily.