FerragOstia Antica

A different kind of Ferragosto, between archaeology and performing arts

While Rome empties out, the Borgo di Ostia Antica lights up. For several editions now, FerragOstia Antica has been the festival that transforms the small Renaissance village commissioned by Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere into an open-air stage in the days surrounding August 15th. The initiative is conceived and curated by the Associazione Culturale Affabulazione, in collaboration with Visit Ostia Antica APS, L'Allegra Banderuola onlus, and SIAE, and has established itself over the years as one of the most recognizable events of the Roman Summer in the Municipality of Rome, within the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, in the Lazio region.

Two souls: performative tours and evening shows

The program has always been built on two complementary tracks. The first part of the event features performative guided tours: routes led by guides and actors who tell the story of the area through monologues, scenic actions, and narratives, often including the extraordinary opening of rarely accessible places like Tor Boacciana, the medieval tower built on the structures of the ancient lighthouse of Ostia at the mouth of the Tiber, or the church of Sant'Ercolano. Places are limited and booking is mandatory.

In the second part, the scene shifts to Piazza della Rocca, at the foot of the castle of Julius II, with a series of evenings with free admission until capacity is reached. Past editions have alternated between days dedicated to circus-theater, live music, and cross-genre performances, featuring prominent national and international companies.

Highlights from previous editions

• Circus-theater and clowning companies such as Eccentrici Dadarò, ArteMakìa, DrumRum Teatro, and the clown Mr Bang (Benjamin Delmas);
• Concerts and musical incursions: Banda Cecafumo blending jazz, swing, and soundtracks, Zastava Orkestar, and African and Latin music ensembles;
• Dance and physical theater performances, such as «Pentesilea» by the Compagnia Internazionale Teatro dei Venti, and the musical narratives of LaborTango;
• Magic and comedy, with acts like «Faccestamagia» by Raffaello Corti;
• DJ sets and dancing in the square to close the evening, in a format designed for families and residents.

The value of the location

The strength of the festival lies in its context. The village is just a few steps from the Ostia Antica Archaeological Park, one of the best-preserved Roman sites in the Mediterranean, and maintains the compact layout of the 15th-century castrum, with its walls, square, and castle. The shows are not simply hosted; they engage with the architecture, the facades, and the August light that descends after 8 PM. For those staying in the city for Ferragosto, it is an intelligent way to rediscover a piece of Rome that many Romans themselves know little about.

A project supported by the Municipality of Rome

The event has repeatedly won public tenders for the Roman Summer. The «Ferragostia Antica 2025/2026» project by the Associazione Culturale Affabulazione is among those admitted for funding in the ranking of Roma Creativa 365. Culture all year round, the call from Rome Capital that supports the city's widespread cultural programming for the 2025-2026 biennium: a guarantee of continuity for the upcoming editions.

Atmosphere

No monumental stages or major sponsorships: FerragOstia Antica has the tone of a well-executed neighborhood festival, where the audience sits on the steps, children are in the front row watching the acrobats, and local families mingle with visitors arriving from the city center via the Roma-Lido railway. The free nature of all events is an identity-defining choice for the organization, which advocates for free access to culture even in the heart of summer.