BarattoCult - Cultural Barter Festival
The festival of cultural barter between performing arts and the Apennine territory
About BarattoCult
A festival that barters art and territory
In the heart of the Pesaro Apennines, in Apecchio and specifically in the charming hamlet of Serravalle di Carda, BarattoCult is a multidisciplinary festival dedicated to cultural exchange between the territory, the community, and the performing arts. Born from an idea by Teatro Le Ombre APS of Pesaro, the festival revives and reinvents the concept of "cultural barter," practiced in 1974 by director Eugenio Barba and Odin Teatret in the small villages of Southern Italy: communities responded to artists' proposals by "bartering" their heritage of songs, dances, and traditional practices.
Here, in the province of Pesaro and Urbino in the Marche region, that idea becomes a contemporary event that intertwines theater, dance, music, and visual arts with walking, nature, and shared meals. Apecchio, recognized as "Italy's First Beer Town," offers a backdrop of forests, streams, historic mills, and ancient castles that become an integral part of the performances.
Narrative trekking, performances, and conviviality
The event day unfolds along a path that engages both body and imagination. It begins in the morning with narrative trekking, guided hikes with headphone narration that transform the trail into an immersive experience through the Carda Castle, the woods, and the valley's waterways. In the afternoon, a participatory theater performance takes place, a site-specific show involving the Apecchio community amidst meadows and forests. The day concludes with a picnic featuring local products, a moment of connection between artists, residents, and visitors.
A residency involving the community
BarattoCult is more than just a day of shows; the festival originates from an artistic residency held in Apecchio, involving adolescents, adults, and seniors from the local community in creating performances and artistic works to share with the territory. Among the festival venues are historic sites like Palazzo Ubaldini and Villa Santa Maria. The project, supported by the Municipality of Apecchio and sponsored by the Province of Pesaro and Urbino, featured the artistic direction of Maestro Carlo Boso, director of the International Academy of Performing Arts in Versailles.
Why it's worth it
BarattoCult is an experience designed for those seeking a festival away from the most crowded circuits, immersed in the nature of the upper Marche Apennines. It's the perfect opportunity to discover an authentic village like Serravalle di Carda, walk through pristine landscapes, and experience art as an encounter between those who create it and those who inhabit these places.
BarattoCult — edition 2026
BarattoCult 2026 — Permaculture of Identity and Performing Arts
The fifth edition of BarattoCult animated the hamlet of Serravalle di Carda, in Apecchio (PU), on June 2, 2026, curated by Ciro Limone, Valeria Fiorini, and Aureliano Delisi, and organized by Teatro Le Ombre APS. The edition's theme, "Permaculture of Identity and Performing Arts," focused on the link between landscape, community, and performative languages.
The day unfolded through walking, theater, and conviviality, set against the natural backdrop of the Carda Valley, amidst woods, streams, and the Carda Castle.
Programme BarattoCult 2026
Morning — 9:30 AM
Two alternative treks with headphone narration, free with mandatory booking, meeting at Azienda Agricola La Cardea (San Cristoforo di Carda):
- "Immersive Carda" — medium-easy difficulty, approx. 10 km and 400 m elevation gain, 5 hours duration, guided by Gianluca Dormicchi (Natura Trekking Marche). Route through woods, streams, a historic mill, and Carda Castle, with an immersive headphone performance by Aureliano Delisi.
- "Listening to the Earth" — easy difficulty, approx. 5 km and 100 m elevation gain, 2 hours duration, with guides Franz Quondam (natural sciences and permaculture) and Barbara Iperti. Meditative walk with headphone narration at Carda Castle.
Afternoon — 4:00 PM
Final performance "The Earth That Tells Its Story" (free admission), a site-specific show amidst the meadows and woods of the Carda Valley. Directed by Ciro Limone, choreography by Valeria Fiorini, dramaturgy and sound by Aureliano Delisi, with live music by Peppe Consolmagno (percussion and acoustic instruments).
Evening — 5:00 PM
Picnic (€20 per person, mandatory booking) curated by chef Roberto Dormicchi (TrigliadiBosco), with a menu of local products: Limousine beef tartare with creamy ricotta and gin-infused apples, farro salad with vegetables and Primo Sale cheese, Marchigiana porchetta sandwich, and traditional desserts (biscuits, cantucci, sour cherry tart). Biodegradable cutlery, mineral water, and a reusable glass included.
The festival is complemented by an artistic residency in Apecchio (Villa Santa Maria, Serravalle di Carda) from August 20 to 25, involving the local community in the creation of performances and artistic works.
Highlights BarattoCult 2026
- Site-specific participatory theater performance "The Earth That Tells Its Story" amidst meadows and woods
- Narrative treks with headphone narration towards Carda Castle
- Live music by Peppe Consolmagno
- Picnic with typical Marche Apennine products by TrigliadiBosco
Prices BarattoCult 2026
Practical information — BarattoCult
Where it takes place
La Carda / Serravalle di Carda, a hamlet of the Municipality of Apecchio (PU), in the upper Pesaro Apennines, Marche. The meeting point for the treks is at Azienda Agricola La Cardea, in San Cristoforo di Carda.
How to get there
Apecchio can be reached by car via the SP257 Apecchiese; the hamlet of Serravalle di Carda is a few kilometers from the center. Car travel is recommended due to the mountainous nature of the area.
Bookings and costs
The narrative treks are free but require mandatory booking. The final theater performance is free admission. The picnic costs €20 per person, with mandatory booking. For information and registration, consult the official website barattocult.it.
Tips
Wear trekking shoes and comfortable clothing. Bring water and sunscreen for the morning excursions.
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Where does it take place — BarattoCult
La Carda, Serravalle di Carda