Di Strada in Strada

A historic festival of the Romagna Apennines

Born in 1992, Di Strada in Strada is one of the longest-running and most beloved performing arts festivals in Italy. Every year, during the week of Ferragosto (mid-August), the small municipality of Santa Sofia, nestled in the upper valley of the Bidente river in the province of Forlì-Cesena (Emilia-Romagna), transforms into the beating heart of the International Gathering of Street Artists (R.I.A.S.). For a few days, this village in the Tuscan-Romagnol Apennines becomes the Italian capital of buskers, welcoming artists and companies from all over the world.

Circus, theatre, music, and fire

The festival is a large multidisciplinary container of performing arts: contemporary and neo-circus, street theatre and circus-theatre, dance, mime, clowning, illusionism, acrobatics, juggling, and fire shows. Live music accompanies the evenings until late at night with stages and sound corners spread throughout the town. The indoor heart of the event is the Teatro Mentore, which hosts high-level performances every evening, with national premieres, European premieres, and absolute new productions.

Five days among the valley villages

The event does not only take place in Santa Sofia: the travelling formula also involves the hamlets of the valley. The opening is traditionally in Spinello, followed by an evening in Corniolo, before the festival focuses on the historic center of Santa Sofia for the grand Ferragosto finale. Along the Bidente river and through the village streets, performances follow one another from late afternoon until midnight, offering an experience suitable for families, children, and street theatre enthusiasts.

More than a festival

Di Strada in Strada is also about food and wine, with food trucks and restaurants offering typical local products and Slow Food, and the characteristic Buskerella market, dedicated to crafts and creativity. Completing the atmosphere are the Sculpture Park of Santa Sofia with its monumental works, photographic exhibitions, and art exhibitions. An event that for over thirty years has combined great international art with the intimate and welcoming dimension of an Apennine village.