Borgo Universo Festival

An open-air museum in the Marsica region

The Borgo Universo Festival takes place in Aielli, a small town in the Marsica area of the province of L'Aquila, in Abruzzo. Founded in 2017, the festival has gradually turned the village's facades and narrow streets into a true open-air museum, featuring over fifty works including murals, sculptures, and installations by Italian and international artists. Each summer, new street art projects are added to this permanent collection, which can be admired year-round throughout the village.

The Science Festival

The theme characterizing recent editions is "The Science Festival" (La Sagra della Scienza): scientific outreach becomes a popular, accessible, and engaging celebration. Six thematic stands distributed between Aielli and the Aielli Stazione district guide visitors of all ages through astronomy, physics, biology, engineering, history, and recreational science, featuring experiments, workshops, and hands-on activities led by qualified staff. The astronomical heart of the festival is the Torre delle Stelle, an observatory and sky museum that hosts night-time stargazing and celestial projections.

Music, art, and community

Alongside science, Borgo Universo is all about live music and performance: concerts, street bands, DJ sets, roving shows, and street art enliven the squares and alleys until late at night. The experience is complemented by guided mural tours, creative workshops, and food and wine offerings featuring local Marsica products. The atmosphere is that of a community celebration, built year after year by the residents and the La Maesa Community Cooperative, which also manages guided tours starting from Piazza Filippo Angelitti.

A village reborn through art

Aielli's story has become a model of cultural regeneration: a small town in the Abruzzo hinterland that, thanks to urban art and science, attracts thousands of visitors from all over Italy every summer. The iconic mural dedicated to the stars and the great questions of the universe captures the spirit of the festival, which blends beauty, knowledge, and a sense of community. Visiting Borgo Universo means discovering an authentic corner of the Marsica region, nestled between mountains, starry skies, and contemporary art.