Ferentino Roman Theatre Festival - Il Teatro Ritrovato

An ancient theatre returns to life

The Ferentino Roman Theatre Festival - Il Teatro Ritrovato debuts in 2026, marking the first edition of a festival that restores one of its most precious landmarks to the community. The Roman Theatre of Ferentino, brought back to light after years of archaeological research and restoration work and officially handed back to the city in September 2025, hosts live performances once again for the first time in centuries. From July 3rd to 22nd, 2026, eight theatre, dance, and music events will fill the cavea of the monument in the town of Ferentino, in the province of Frosinone, Lazio.

Part of the Stone Theatres Network

The festival is promoted with the support of the Municipality of Ferentino and is part of the National Network of Stone Theatres, a circuit that has spent years revitalizing Italy's ancient amphitheatres and theatres by returning them to their original function as performance spaces. The project, titled in full Il Teatro Ritrovato - Theatre, Dance and Music along the Southern Via Francigena, integrates Ferentino into a cultural itinerary that links archaeological heritage with the historic Southern Via Francigena pilgrimage route.

A journey through the great myths of the Mediterranean

The programme offers a journey through the great themes of Mediterranean culture, alternating between dramatic theatre, contemporary dance, music, and new dramaturgy. Offerings range from reinterpretations of Homeric myth to the tragedies of Euripides, and from the comedies of Aristophanes to original stage creations. The performances weave together word, movement, and sound, creating a dialogue between ancient classics and contemporary sensibilities within a unique monumental setting.

Ferentino and the Ciociaria

Perched on a hill overlooking the Sacco Valley, Ferentino is one of the oldest cities in southern Lazio, enclosed by imposing pre-Roman polygonal walls and rich in Roman and medieval heritage. The Roman Theatre now joins the Acropolis, the Porta Sanguinaria, and the Cathedral as a key stop on a trail that tells thousands of years of history. Attending a performance in the ancient cavea, under the summer sky of the Ciociaria, is an experience where archaeology and live art merge.

A summer of performance under the stars

Events take place in the evening, when the ancient stone lights up with stage effects and the actors' voices resonate once again across the tiers. The festival appeals both to classical theatre enthusiasts and to visitors curious to discover a newly reopened monument, offering the city of Ferentino and the entire province of Frosinone a new cultural season destined to become a fixture of the Lazio summer.