Festival of Colors

A festival of encounter in the heart of the Sabina

The Festival of Colors is a widespread cultural event that every year adds vibrancy to the historic center of Capena, a small town in the Metropolitan City of Rome, in the Lazio region, at the gateway to the Roman Sabina. The festival is promoted and organized by the Municipality of Capena together with the SAI (Reception and Integration System) team of the Alicenova Social Cooperative, and revolves around themes of hospitality, inclusion, and the encounter between peoples, in the spirit of World Refugee Day.

The soul of the festival

The Festival of Colors is by nature a multidisciplinary and participatory event. The program is spread over several days and explores different languages, fostering dialogue between the long-time residents of Capena and the beneficiaries of the reception projects. Recurring features of the festival include:

• Theater and storytelling: monologues, readings, and performances that recount stories of travel, roots, and memory.
• World music and dance: concerts and performances ranging from Balkan sounds to African rhythms and dances.
• Exhibitions and photography: displays scattered throughout the squares and alleys of the historic center, dedicated to the memory of the territory and the cultures hosted.
• Free creative workshops: ceramics, carpentry, painting, animated readings, and games for peace designed for children and families.

A widespread and free event

Activities take place in various locations around the town, from Piazza del Popolo to the DamArte Theater, from the Senior Center to the alleys of the historic center, enlivened by narrative walks that share anecdotes and curiosities about Capena. Admission to all initiatives is free, with reservations recommended for some indoor performances.

Capena and the Roman Sabina

Situated on a hill overlooking the Tiber valley, Capena preserves a compact historic center and an ancient vocation for hospitality, also evidenced by the numerous archaeological finds in the area. The Festival of Colors enhances this identity by transforming the town into an open-air stage, where the Sabina community and new cultures arriving from afar meet through art, music, and sharing.