Euterpe Eolie Festival

A festival spread across the Aeolian Islands

The Euterpe Eolie Festival is one of the most established musical events in the Aeolian archipelago, located in the province of Messina, Sicily. Promoted by the Euterpe Cultural Association and chaired by pianist Salvatore Gitto, the festival offers an annual season of concerts ranging from chamber music and jazz to narrative prose, with events held in the municipality of Lipari, the village of Canneto, and the island of Salina.

Classical music, jazz, and the spoken word

The heart of the festival is high-level chamber music performed by Italian and international artists, often featuring young talents who have won prestigious international competitions. Alongside classical programs, the festival features jazz evenings as part of the EuterpeJazz section and prose readings, where actors and narrators bring literature to the stage. The season's central theme is the Spartiti per le Eolie series, dedicated to chamber music.

Evocative seaside venues

A hallmark of the Euterpe Eolie Festival is its choice of venues: the concerts take place in spaces that become part of the performance itself, such as the Basilica of San Cristoforo in Canneto, the Congress Hall of the Gattopardo Park Hotel in Lipari, the Centro Studi Eoliano, and, on Salina, the churchyard of the San Bartolomeo church in Lingua, home to the traditional summer event Armonie dell'Isola.

A season that spans the year

The schedule is not condensed into a few days but unfolds throughout the season: it opens in spring, with the majority of concerts taking place during the summer months when the Aeolian Islands are bustling with visitors. The festival is held under the patronage of the Municipality of Lipari and supported by Federalberghi Isole Eolie, highlighting its deep connection to the local area and its tourism and cultural vocation.

Why it is worth attending

For those visiting the Aeolian Islands in summer, the Euterpe Eolie Festival offers a chance to experience the islands in a different light: beyond the sea and volcanoes, it provides refined concerts in unique settings, often with free or affordable admission, designed to bring great music to everyone.