Arte al Borgo National Painting Prize

A painting prize in the village of centenarians

The Arte al Borgo National Painting Prize is a contemporary art exhibition promoted by the Municipality of Campodimele, a small town in the province of Latina perched at 647 meters in the Monti Aurunci, in southern Lazio. Established in 2024, the prize has quickly become one of the most anticipated cultural events of the summer in the South Pontine area, bringing contemporary painting within the medieval walls of one of Italy's most beautiful and long-lived villages, world-renowned as the "village of centenarians."

The competition format

The prize is both a national painting competition and a collective exhibition. Artists from all over the peninsula participate for free by submitting their works based on a theme set annually by the artistic direction. A jury of experts selects the works admitted to the exhibition and, at the end, awards the top three finalists. The works are displayed in the Marino Pecchia Hall of the Town Hall, located in Piazza Municipio, the institutional and cultural heart of the village.

The editions

• 2024 (1st edition): dedicated to the theme "MATER," with the "Mater Dei" collective exhibition held throughout the month of August.
• 2025 (2nd edition): a successful return of the exhibition in the Campodimele summer calendar.
• 2026 (3rd edition): presentation and exhibition starting August 7th, demonstrating the continuity of a project now deeply rooted in the town's identity.

Campodimele, a jewel of the Monti Aurunci

Campodimele is a fortified medieval village, enclosed by 11th-century walls once marked by twelve towers and awarded the Orange Flag by the Italian Touring Club. Immersed in the Monti Aurunci Natural Park, it is famous for the exceptional longevity of its inhabitants, studied since the 1980s by the World Health Organization. Strolling through the alleys of the historic center, between the church of San Michele Arcangelo and the view over the Liri valley, is an essential part of the experience when visiting the prize.

A summer of art

The Arte al Borgo Prize is part of the rich Campodimele Summer program, a cross-disciplinary schedule that enlivens the village's squares, districts, and cultural spaces from mid-July to the end of August with exhibitions, meetings, and events. The exhibition engages with the town's other cultural offerings, providing residents and visitors with a journey that combines contemporary art, landscape, and the traditions of the most authentic Lazio.