Dionisie Urbane
A spring festival of theatre, music, and myth in Taurisano
About Dionisie Urbane
A festival bringing Dionysus back to Taurisano
Dionisie Urbane was born in 2026 in Taurisano, in the province of Lecce, as a fresh cultural highlight for the Salento area. The name pays homage to the Great Dionysia, the ancient Greek festivals that gathered the entire city around the god Dionysus to celebrate theatre, music, and collective joy. The festival draws its identity from this classical heritage: an independent urban space where art returns to being a shared ritual.
A month of events following the moon
The first edition took place from April 17 to May 15, 2026, a month marked by the lunar cycle: starting on the day of the New Moon and culminating in the Full Moon, following a symbolism that ties the festival calendar to the rhythms of nature. Events were concentrated on April 17, 18, 24, and 30, and May 9 and 15, with a programme alternating between theatre, music, literature, installations, and workshops open to all.
A programme between myth and experimentation
The opening on April 17 featured the symposium Bentornato Dioniso (Welcome Back, Dionysus), with contributions from scholars and university researchers, followed by the performance Manto Passa. The next day, the festival hosted a kite-making workshop with Franco Tamborino and the theatrical performance La Macà ra, dedicated to the magical folklore of Salento. On April 24, the stage hosted Maru o dell'ineffabile allegria, which explores themes of anticipation, femininity, and Salento rituals, followed by the astronomical observation workshop O mia diletta Luna. The journey continued with events through late April and May, accompanied by the exhibition Le donne fatali della mitologia greca by artist Leandro Caroli.
QUAI, an independent artistic district
The festival is promoted by QUAI - Quartiere Urbano Artistico Indipendente and takes place at their theatre on Via Aldo Sabato. The project is supported by the Luoghi Comuni initiative of the Apulia Region and ARTI Puglia, with the patronage of the Municipality of Taurisano: a fusion of youthful energy, urban regeneration, and cultural promotion that has become a hallmark of many initiatives in Puglia.
Taurisano and the culture of Salento
Located in lower Salento, just a few kilometres from the Ionian and Adriatic coasts, Taurisano is known as the birthplace of the philosopher Giulio Cesare Vanini. With Dionisie Urbane, the town joins the vibrant spring calendar of Puglia, offering a vision that starts from Greek myth to speak to the present day, through theatrical research, community engagement, and new artistic languages.
Dionisie Urbane — edition 2026
The first edition of Dionisie Urbane
From April 17 to May 15, 2026, Taurisano hosted the inaugural edition of Dionisie Urbane, a festival spread over an entire month and organized according to the lunar cycle, from the New Moon to the Full Moon. The days of April 17, 18, 24, and 30, and May 9 and 15, alternated between theatre, music, literature, and workshops at the Teatro QUAI on Via Aldo Sabato.
Highlights included the opening symposium Bentornato Dioniso and the performance Manto Passa on April 17, the kite workshop and the play La Macà ra on the 18th, and the performance Maru o dell'ineffabile allegria accompanied by the astronomical observation O mia diletta Luna on April 24. The programme was complemented by the exhibition Le donne fatali della mitologia greca by Leandro Caroli. A successful debut, supported by the Luoghi Comuni initiative of the Apulia Region and ARTI Puglia.
Programme Dionisie Urbane 2026
2026 Programme (main days)
- April 17 - 7:00 PM: Opening symposium Bentornato Dioniso with Rocco Luigi Nichil, Anna Ronga, and Davide Dobjani; 8:00 PM: Performance Manto Passa (Gioele Nuzzo, Anna Ronga).
- April 18 - 10:00 AM: Kite workshop with Franco Tamborino (construction and flying); evening: Theatrical performance La Macà ra by Valentina Sciurti.
- April 24 - 8:00 PM: Maru o dell'ineffabile allegria, artistic direction by Matteo Carbone, with Roberta Annesi, Adele Benlahouar, Martina Carbone, Sara Ferrari, Matteo Gnoni, and Anna Ronga; followed by the lunar observation workshop O mia diletta Luna with Giovanni Maroccia.
- April 30, May 9 and 15 - Additional events including theatre, music, and meetings.
- Exhibition: Le donne fatali della mitologia greca by Leandro Caroli (seven works), on display for the duration of the festival.
Highlights Dionisie Urbane 2026
- First edition of a festival inspired by ancient Greek Dionysian celebrations
- Programme marked by the lunar cycle, from New Moon to Full Moon
- Performance Maru o dell'ineffabile allegria and telescope astronomical observation
- Exhibition Le donne fatali della mitologia greca by Leandro Caroli
- Independent festival promoted by the QUAI collective with the support of the Apulia Region
Prices Dionisie Urbane 2026
Practical information — Dionisie Urbane
Location
Events take place at the Teatro QUAI, on Via Aldo Sabato, in Taurisano (LE), in the lower Salento area.
Getting there
By car: Taurisano is accessible via the SS275 road towards Casarano/Ugento; it is approximately 55 km from Lecce. By train: The nearest Ferrovie del Sud Est stations are in Casarano and Ugento, with onward travel by bus or car. By plane: Brindisi-Casale Airport is approximately 90 km away.
Tickets
No official unified price list was released. As the festival is supported by public funds from the Luoghi Comuni programme, events were either free or required reservation: it is recommended to contact the QUAI collective to confirm availability and times for individual events.
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Where does it take place — Dionisie Urbane
Teatro QUAI
Via Aldo Sabato, 73056 Taurisano