Ex Astris: Scientia

An astronomy festival in your neighborhood

Ex Astris: Scientia is the capital's astronomy festival: a free event that blends scientific outreach, entertainment, and culture, bringing the starry sky to a suburban district of Rome, in the heart of the XIII Municipality. The initiative is conceived and organized by IDS - Imprenditori di Sogni and has received the support of Roma Capitale - Department of Culture, as one of the winning projects of the biennial public notice «Culture in Movimento 2023-2024».

Where it takes place

The festival's historic venue is the Polo Culturale Ex Campari, at Via Gaetano Mazzoni 85, a former industrial plant converted into a cultural space located in the Montespaccato area, near the Boccea and Aurelio districts. In recent editions, the event has expanded to other spaces in the western part of the city, involving the Auditorium Don Sebastiano Plutino (Via Monte del Gallo 113) and Piazza della Fornace Veschi, in front of the Aura Shopping Center in Valle Aurelia. This is a deliberate choice: to provide high-quality scientific outreach outside the historic center, in places frequented daily by local residents.

Typical program

The schedule alternates between different formats over several evenings, appealing to both enthusiasts and those approaching astronomy for the first time:

• Lectures and talks with astrophysicists and science communicators: past guests have included Paolo Colona (founder of the Accademia delle Stelle), Adrian Fartade (Link4Universe), Pasquale D'Anna (Passione Astronomia), Stefano Piccin, and Mariasole Maglione (Astrospace).
• Telescope observations guided by astronomers to identify planets, star clusters, and details of the lunar surface.
• Astronomy-themed theatrical performances that recount the cosmos and the great feats of space exploration through the language of the stage.
• Creative workshops for children, such as the «Walking with Oppy» series dedicated to Mars rovers, designed for local families.
• Special evenings linked to celestial phenomena of the period, such as lunar eclipses.

A free, community-based initiative

Admission is completely free: for indoor events and observations, online booking is usually required, while outdoor meetings are generally open access until capacity is reached. The festival collaborates regularly with the Accademia delle Stelle and local associations, and over the years, it has become a recognized appointment for the city's astronomy enthusiasts.

Context

Within the landscape of cultural events in Lazio, Ex Astris: Scientia occupies a unique niche: it is neither a food festival nor a music festival, but an outreach project that deliberately chooses the Roman suburbs as a meeting place between science and the public. The formula, repeated for several editions, has led the festival to shift its calendar: after winter editions, it moved to early September, a season more favorable for evening outdoor observations.