Anima Flegrea - International Festival of Culture and Dance
Dance, music, and culture in the most evocative settings of the Phlegraean Fields
About Anima Flegrea
A festival that unites art and the Phlegraean landscape
Anima Flegrea is the International Festival of Culture and Dance that transforms the area of Bacoli, in the heart of the Phlegraean Fields near Naples, into an open-air stage every summer. Established in 2023, the festival is conceived and directed by Maestro Antonio Colandrea and is promoted by the Municipality of Bacoli together with the AR-TU Association, with the support of the Campania Region. The festival celebrates the excellence of classical and contemporary dance, while also embracing music, theater, fashion, and song, in a continuous dialogue between live performance arts and the beauty of the locations.
An itinerant journey through iconic sites
The hallmark of Anima Flegrea is its itinerant nature: each evening takes place in a different, highly evocative site along the Phlegraean coast. The audience is taken on a journey that highlights the historical and natural heritage of the area, from the Casina Vanvitelliana overlooking Lake Fusaro to Villa Ferretti and the Torregaveta pier stretching out into the sea. Dance thus becomes a tool for storytelling and tourism promotion in an area rich in history, Roman archaeology, ancient myths, and breathtaking views.
Galas, awards, and young talent
The program alternates between major dance galas featuring prominent national and international guests, award ceremonies dedicated to the careers of established artists, and sections reserved for young talent, often hailing from major Italian academies, including the Ballet School of the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples. Dancers, choreographers, musicians, actors, and singers take turns on stage in multidisciplinary evenings that weave together performance, live music, and storytelling.
Bacoli and the Phlegraean Fields
Hosting a dance festival in Bacoli means engaging with a territory unique in the world. The Phlegraean Fields are a volcanic area of extraordinary value, dotted with archaeological sites, ancient thermal baths, and legends linked to myth. Anima Flegrea was born from the desire to restore cultural centrality to this corner of Campania, making live performance a driver of identity and landscape enhancement.
- Artistic Direction: Maestro Antonio Colandrea
- Promoters: Municipality of Bacoli and AR-TU Association
- Disciplines: classical and contemporary dance, music, theater, fashion, singing
- Venues: Casina Vanvitelliana, Villa Ferretti, Torregaveta pier, and other Phlegraean sites
Anima Flegrea — edition 2026
Anima Flegrea 2026: the fourth edition
The fourth edition of Anima Flegrea is spread across four evenings between June and August 2026, each set in an iconic location in the Bacoli area. The artistic direction is entrusted to Maestro Antonio Colandrea, with Veronica Maya hosting the first evenings. The festival weaves together dance galas, career awards, and space for young talent from Italian academies, including the Ballet School of the Teatro di San Carlo.
The four evenings
- June 22 - Avant Première (Resort Punta Pennadio): opening night with a press conference and artistic preview featuring live music, urban dance, and performances.
- July 1 - Nun te scurdà (Casina Vanvitelliana): gala dedicated to young talent and the memory of Marilena Riccio, with awards and original choreography.
- July 18 - Eruzioni Emozionali (Villa Ferretti): the grand dance gala with national and international guests, pas de deux, solos, and career awards.
- August 9 - Appuntamento per l'eternità (Torregaveta pier): multidisciplinary closing night with a tribute to Ornella Vanoni, blending opera, song, and dance.
Programme Anima Flegrea 2026
Anima Flegrea 2026 Program
June 22 - Avant Première (Resort Punta Pennadio, 9:00 PM): opening night with press conference and performances of live music, urban dance, and burlesque. Special guest: Veronica Maya.
July 1 - Nun te scurdà (Casina Vanvitelliana, 8:30 PM): international gala dedicated to young talent and the memory of Marilena Riccio, with original choreography and young dancers from national academies, including the Ballet School of the Teatro di San Carlo. Hosted by Veronica Maya. Career awards and choreographic recognitions.
July 18 - Eruzioni Emozionali (Villa Ferretti, 8:30 PM): the festival's grand dance gala, featuring pas de deux, classical and contemporary solos, and musical and theatrical moments. Numerous career awards for artists and choreographers from the national and international scene. Hosted by Veronica Maya.
August 9 - Appuntamento per l'eternità (Torregaveta pier, 8:00 PM): closing night with a tribute to Ornella Vanoni, blending opera and pop through song, dance, and spoken word. Hosted by journalist Ilaria Sambucci.
Highlights Anima Flegrea 2026
- Four itinerant evenings in the most beautiful locations of the Phlegraean Fields
- Dance galas with national and international guests
- Career awards and space for young talent from Italian academies
- Tribute to Ornella Vanoni on the closing night at the Torregaveta pier
- Artistic direction by Maestro Antonio Colandrea
Prices Anima Flegrea 2026
Practical information — Anima Flegrea
How to get there
Bacoli is located in the Phlegraean Fields, west of Naples. By car, it can be reached from the Naples Tangenziale, taking the exit towards Pozzuoli and the Phlegraean area. By train, you can use the Cumana line (Torregaveta and Fusaro stations) to reach the main points of the coast, where the festival venues are located.
Performance venues
The evenings take place in different locations: Casina Vanvitelliana on Lake Fusaro, Villa Ferretti, and the Torregaveta pier. We recommend checking the specific venue for each individual evening.
Tickets and information
For information on access, reservations, and any tickets, you can contact the production team at [email protected] or at +39 347 486 1043, as well as through the festival's official social media channels.
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Where does it take place — Anima Flegrea
Casina Vanvitelliana, Villa Ferretti, Pontile di Torregaveta