Attraversamenti - The Appian Way between Stone and Vision
Theatre, dance, and music inside the Castrum Caetani, in front of the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella
About Attraversamenti
A performance within the archaeological landscape
Attraversamenti - The Appian Way between Stone and Vision is the summer live performance festival hosted by the Appian Way Archaeological Park, in the municipality of Rome, Lazio. The heart of the event is the Church of San Nicola, located within the Castrum Caetani, right in front of the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella: one of the most famous and photographed stretches of the Regina Viarum, at the third mile of the Appian Way.
The philosophy behind the project is clear from its title. Crossing (Attraversare) does not mean passing by, but entering: the Park is not a stage set for a performance, but an interlocutor that engages with both artists and the audience. Spectators are invited to immerse themselves in the site, rather than simply observing it.
Who promotes it
The festival was launched in 2024 on the initiative of the Appian Way Archaeological Park, in collaboration with the Teatri di Pietra network, an organization specializing in staging performances at Italian archaeological sites. The artistic direction is entrusted to Aurelio Gatti, a choreographer and director who also directs the opening night of each season. Since 2026, the Park has been directed by Luigi Scaroina.
How the program is structured
The calendar alternates between two recognizable formats that repeat each season:
- Conversations, held in the early evening (usually at 7:00 PM), which pair a scholar with a short performance: topics include literature, botany, architecture, medical science, and economics. Affordable tickets, accessible format.
- Evening performances (usually at 9:00 PM): spoken theatre, contemporary dance, classical Indian dance, and live baroque music.
The repertoire draws largely from the classical world and Mediterranean tradition—Dante, Greek myths, Attic tragedy, sacred texts—reinterpreted through contemporary lenses. This is not archaeology staged as a museum piece: it is modern theatre choosing to engage with two-thousand-year-old stone.
The atmosphere
Those who have attended describe a unique experience. You arrive as the light fades over the Appian Way, enter the Castrum Caetani enclosure, and watch the performance inside the nave of the small medieval church, with the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella just a few meters away. Capacity is limited: it is an intimate festival, far removed from the large Roman summer events, which is part of its charm.
The context: the Appian Way as a UNESCO site
Since 2024, the Appian Way—Regina Viarum—has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the first Italian site nominated directly by the Ministry of Culture. Attraversamenti fits into this framework as one of the tools the Park uses to make the Appian Way a lived-in place rather than just a visited one, alongside extraordinary evening openings, immersive exhibitions, and pedestrian enhancement paths.
Who it is for
This festival is perfect for those who love experimental theatre and early music, for visitors to Rome in summer looking for something beyond the usual city-centre nightlife, and for those who already know the Appian Way by day and want to discover it at sunset. The afternoon conversations, which are also more affordably priced, are a great entry point for first-time attendees.
Attraversamenti — edition 2026
The third season
The 2026 edition of Attraversamenti confirmed the successful formula of the first two seasons, while concentrating all events in a single location: the Church of San Nicola, inside the Castrum Caetani, in front of the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella. Ten evenings spread over just over a month, from May 30 to July 4.
The festival was presented by the Appian Way Archaeological Park together with the Teatri di Pietra network, in the presence of the new Park director Luigi Scaroina. The artistic direction remained with Aurelio Gatti, who also directed the opening night.
The calendar alternated between 7:00 PM conversations—Dante with Giulio Ferroni, fantastic botany, patterns of human architecture—and 9:00 PM performances, dedicated primarily to myth and early music: Versus Dante, Pulcinella and the Emperor, the Indian dance of Lāsya, the Story of Judith to music by Scarlatti, Agamennomen, and finally, Medea.
Programme Attraversamenti 2026
The complete 2026 program
- Saturday, May 30, 7:00 PM - Festival inauguration: choral evening with theatre, music, and dance performances curated by Aurelio Gatti, and presentation of the program to the public. Free admission.
- Saturday, June 6, 7:00 PM - Chi ha voluto intrar, con tutta pace: conversation on Dante with Giulio Ferroni, accompanied by a photographic exhibition. 8 euros.
- Saturday, June 6, 9:00 PM - Versus Dante, Xenia Company, directed by Paolo Pasquini. 15 euros. (Rescheduled to June 27.)
- Sunday, June 7, 7:00 PM - Fantastic Botany: roundtable followed by the dance performance Infiniti Mondi. 8 euros.
- Saturday, June 13, 9:00 PM - Pulcinella and the Emperor, Obliquo - MDA Produzioni Danza. 15 euros.
- Sunday, June 14, 9:00 PM - Lāsya, classical Indian dance with Ganga Devi Sheth. 15 euros.
- Saturday, June 20, 9:00 PM - Story of Judith, baroque music by Alessandro Scarlatti with the Cappella Musicale di Villa Medici. 15 euros.
- Saturday, June 27, 7:00 PM - Patterns of Human Architecture: roundtable with harp performance. 8 euros.
- Sunday, June 28, 9:00 PM - Agamennomen, TTR Il Teatro di Tato Russo. 15 euros.
- Saturday, July 4, 9:00 PM - Medea, Teatro Belli by Antonio Salines. Closing night. 15 euros.
All events took place at the Church of San Nicola, Via Appia Antica 161, Rome.
Highlights Attraversamenti 2026
- Free opening night on May 30, featuring theatre, music, and dance under the direction of Aurelio Gatti.
- Medea by Teatro Belli, directed by Antonio Salines, closing the season on July 4.
- Story of Judith: baroque music by Alessandro Scarlatti performed live by the Cappella Musicale di Villa Medici in a medieval church.
- Lāsya, an exploration of classical Indian dance with Ganga Devi Sheth, one of the events furthest from the festival's usual repertoire.
- The 7:00 PM conversations for 8 euros, pairing a scholar with a short performance: Dante with Giulio Ferroni, botany, architecture.
Prices Attraversamenti 2026
Practical information — Attraversamenti
Location
Church of San Nicola, Castrum Caetani - Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella, Via Appia Antica 161, 00179 Rome.
How to get there
Public transport: Metro line A to Colli Albani or Arco di Travertino, then bus line 660 to the Cecilia Metella terminus. Alternatively, bus 118 from Metro B station Circo Massimo or Piramide, with stops along the Appian Way.
Car: Access to the Appian Way is regulated and partially pedestrianized on holidays; parking near the Mausoleum is limited. We recommend arriving well in advance or using public transport.
Bicycle: The Appian Way is one of the most beautiful cycling routes in Rome, and several rental shops are located along the path.
Tickets
Available online via the Musei Italiani portal (portale.museiitaliani.it). Generally: 15 euros for evening shows, 8 euros for conversations with performances, free admission for the opening night. Limited seating: booking is highly recommended.
Tips
Performances take place at dusk in an archaeological site: bring a light sweater even in June and wear comfortable shoes, as the cobblestones and internal paths are uneven. It is worth arriving at least half an hour early to enjoy the stretch of the Appian Way in front of the Mausoleum in the sunset light.
Information
Phone: +39 351 9072781 - Official website: parcoarcheologicoappiaantica.it
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Attraversamenti
Chiesa di San Nicola, Castrum Caetani - Mausoleo di Cecilia Metella
Via Appia Antica 161, 00179 Roma