Cinema under the Stars

Open-air cinema returns to the moat of the Agropoli Castle

In Agropoli, in the province of Salerno, summer cinema has found its most evocative home: the moat of the Angioino-Aragonese Castle, the fortress that overlooks the historic center and the entire gulf. Here, for four evenings between July and August, a large screen transforms the medieval walls into an open-air theater, with the Cilento sea just a few steps away and the evening breeze accompanying the screenings. This is the concept behind Cinema under the Stars, a festival created to revive a tradition that seemed lost.

Who organizes it

The festival is promoted by the Liberi e Forti association in collaboration with the Cineteatro Eduardo De Filippo in Agropoli and Mekanè Produzioni, under the patronage of the Municipality of Agropoli. Following the success of its first edition, the initiative has become a permanent fixture in the city's summer program, which the municipality gathers under the Vivi Agropoli brand.

More than just screenings: the film and its creators

The format is what distinguishes this festival from a simple summer arena. Each evening is not limited to watching the film: it includes a meeting with a guest — a lead actor, a screenwriter, or a writer — who engages with the audience before or after the screening. The result is a dual experience of entertainment and insight into the craft of filmmaking, accessible to everyone and not just for cinema buffs.

Independent Shorts: a space for young directors from Agropoli

One of the most anticipated events is the evening dedicated to Independent Shorts: four short films by young directors from Agropoli, who are present in the theater to present their work. This choice speaks volumes about the festival's mission: not just to bring big titles to a spectacular setting, but to give visibility to those starting their filmmaking journey in the Cilento region, where opportunities for debut are rare.

A rediscovered tradition

Open-air cinema in Agropoli is not a novelty, but a comeback. In the 1960s, summer screenings were a collective ritual, one of the defining features of Agropoli's summers, which then disappeared for decades. Recovering that habit in the castle moat means restoring a piece of its memory to the community, in a place that is itself a symbol of the city: the Angioino-Aragonese Castle, of Byzantine origin and repeatedly remodeled, now the heart of the old town's cultural events.

Agropoli and the Cilento in summer

Agropoli is the gateway to the Cilento and the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, a short distance from the temples of Paestum and the beaches of Santa Maria di Castellabate. In high season, the city comes alive at night: the old town with its pointed arch gate, the alleys climbing toward the castle, the harbor, and the bars along the waterfront. An evening of Cinema under the Stars fits naturally into this rhythm, offering a cultural alternative in the heart of the Campanian summer and one more reason to head up to the castle after sunset.

Tips for the evening

• The castle moat can be reached on foot from the center: expect an uphill walk and wear comfortable shoes.
• Arrive early: seats in the moat are limited and evenings with guests attract large crowds.
• Bring a light sweater: on the hill, at night, the sea air gets cool.
• Before the screening, a walk through the historic center and an aperitif with a view of the gulf is well worth it.