EYEXEI — Classical Theatre Festival in Morgantina

Greek theatre returns to Morgantina

There are places where the spoken word seems to have never stopped echoing. The Ancient Theatre of Morgantina, in the territory of the Municipality of Aidone, in the Province of Enna, is one such place: a Hellenistic cavea carved into the hills of central Sicily, where Euripides and Aeschylus were performed two thousand years ago. With EYEXEI — Classical Theatre Festival in Morgantina, that ancient gesture regains its meaning, and the audience returns to sit on the stone tiers to hear the great Greek tragedies exactly where they were meant to be seen.

Two sites, one unique experience

The festival is promoted by the Municipality of Aidone and the Archaeological Park of Morgantina and the Villa Romana del Casale, with artistic direction by Michele Di Dio. The festival moves between two iconic sites of Sicilian archaeology: the Morgantina site, with its agora and Hellenistic theatre, and the Villa Romana del Casale in Piazza Armerina, famous for its UNESCO-protected mosaics. Attending a performance in these spaces means experiencing the myth while immersed in the landscape that has guarded it for centuries.

The 2026 edition

Following the success of the inaugural 2025 edition, EYEXEI returns from July 10th to 13th, 2026, with a programme that gives new voice to the great classical texts. The Ancient Theatre of Morgantina will host the national premiere of Euripides' The Trojan Women, directed by Daniele Salvo, alongside Aeschylus' Prometheus Bound. The festival concludes at the Villa Romana del Casale with Odyssey, Towards Ithaca, a journey into the words of Homer. Performances take place in the evening, as the warm light of sunset gives way to the ruins and the sky of inland Sicily.

Why it's worth the trip

• Greek tragedies in an authentic ancient theatre, not a reconstruction.
• National-level direction (Daniele Salvo) and dedicated productions.
• Two of Sicily's most important archaeological sites: Morgantina and the Villa Romana del Casale.
• An opportunity to discover the Enna hinterland, far from the most beaten tourist paths.

EYEXEI is more than just a season of shows: it is a cultural project that links regional development with artistic research, bringing classical theatre back to its natural context in the heart of Sicily.