Giuliana Jazz Festival

A jazz festival in the heart of the Sicani

The Giuliana Jazz Festival is a summer musical event held in Giuliana, a small medieval village of about 800 inhabitants perched at an altitude of 710 meters in the Sicani Mountains, in the province of Palermo. The beating heart of the festival is the Castello di Federico II, a Swabian fortress with a distinctive pentagonal tower that overlooks the town. Restored in the 2000s, the manor is now one of the most fascinating venues for concerts and cultural events in the Palermo area, highly regarded for its natural acoustics.

Music and mentorship

The festival features a program that combines free evening concerts with masterclasses dedicated to young musicians from across Europe. The evenings range from classic jazz to reinterpretations of Italian and international songs, hosting renowned national artists alongside Sicilian performers each year. The masterclasses, particularly those for piano and guitar, allow students to study with world-class instructors while immersed in the village's atmosphere, helping to put Giuliana on the map far beyond the borders of Sicily.

A community-driven initiative

Organized by the Municipality of Giuliana with the support of the Sicilian Region, the festival was created to combine artistic prestige, education, and tourism promotion for this small town in the Val del Sosio. The castle setting, the historic churches, and the landscape of the Sicani Mountains provide the backdrop for an experience that goes beyond a simple concert, inviting visitors to discover an authentic and lesser-known corner of the Sicilian hinterland.

When it takes place

The festival traditionally takes place during the summer, between July and August, with events spread over several weeks. The concerts are concentrated at the Castello di Federico II and conclude with the final masterclass in late August.