Fortezza in Musica

A festival within the walls of the Bourbon Fortress

Fortezza in Musica is the summer festival that every August turns the village of Civitella del Tronto, in the province of Teramo, into one of the most vibrant musical hubs in Abruzzo. The event is promoted by the Fondazione Gioventù Musicale d'Italia in collaboration with the City of Civitella del Tronto, with its beating heart located in the majestic Bourbon Fortress, the largest Spanish fortress in Italy and one of the most extensive monumental works in Europe.

Advanced masterclasses

At the center of the festival are the Advanced Masterclasses, divided into three sections that welcome both Italian and international musicians (instruction is provided in Italian and English):

• Classical Courses dedicated to clarinet, saxophone, and voice;
• Fortezza Brass Lab, reserved for brass instruments: trumpet, horn, trombone, and euphonium;
• Fortezza Jazz Lab, dedicated to jazz languages, from guitar to vocals, drums to bass and double bass.

Each student receives at least one individual daily lesson and a final certificate. The faculty features prominent names from the national and international scene, such as clarinetist Fabrizio Meloni, principal clarinet of the Teatro alla Scala, and singer Alice Ricciardi, who has performed at the Blue Note.

Evening concerts and village venues

Fortezza in Musica is not just about training: every evening, at the end of the masterclasses, the teachers together with the best students perform in concerts in the most evocative spots of the village and the Fortress, in a continuous dialogue between education and the stage. Concerts come to life at the Capannina, in Piazza Filippi Pepe, and throughout the alleys of the historic center, in a journey that weaves together classical music, brass, and jazz.

Music, wine, and territory

The festival also dedicates space to the bond between music and the territory with Note di Vino, a project of itinerant music throughout the village combined with food and wine tastings, involving some of Abruzzo's most representative wineries. Strolling through the historic alleys of Civitella del Tronto while listening to live music and savoring local delicacies is one of the most characteristic experiences of the festival.

Civitella del Tronto and its Fortress

As one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, Civitella del Tronto sits at the extreme northern border of Abruzzo, at the foot of the Monti della Laga. Its Fortress, the site of the last Bourbon resistance in 1861, offers a unique setting: the walls, the walkways, and the views over the valley become the natural stage for a festival that combines high-level training, entertainment, and heritage preservation.