I Cantieri dell'Immaginario

I Cantieri dell'Immaginario: L'Aquila's Cultural Summer

I Cantieri dell'Immaginario is the flagship summer performing arts festival in L'Aquila, the capital of Abruzzo. Established in 2018, the event is promoted by the Municipality of L'Aquila and coordinated by the Teatro Stabile d'Abruzzo in collaboration with local cultural institutions: the Società Aquilana dei Concerti "Bonaventura Barattelli", I Solisti Aquilani, the Istituzione Sinfonica Abruzzese, the Gruppo E-Motion, the Teatro dei 99, and the Teatro Zeta. Every summer, the festival enlivens the city's historic center for over a month, restoring the city's iconic sites as vibrant, shared spaces.

A Multidisciplinary Program

The hallmark of the Cantieri dell'Immaginario is its multidisciplinary approach: classical and singer-songwriter music, prose theatre, dance, comedy, and major pop concerts all coexist in a single program. The festival alternates refined productions—symphonic, chamber, and choreographic—with popular events featuring stars of the Italian scene, creating a schedule that appeals to diverse audiences. Alongside high-profile shows, the festival reserves significant space for contemporary creation and projects that weave art with the memory and identity of a city continuing its rebirth.

Festival Venues

The heart of the event is the scenic Scalinata di San Bernardino, which transforms into a natural amphitheatre overlooking the historic center. Performances also take place at the Teatro San Filippo, the Teatro dei 99, the Parco del Castello, and other city spaces, with events even reaching the surrounding villages of the L'Aquila territory. A distinctive aspect of the Cantieri is its focus on inclusion: thanks to a partnership with the National Association of the Deaf, some performances are made accessible with LIS (Italian Sign Language) interpreters.

L'Aquila and Abruzzo

I Cantieri dell'Immaginario are an integral part of L'Aquila's cultural journey, as the city celebrates its year as the Italian Capital of Culture in 2026. The festival is one of the most anticipated events of the Abruzzo summer and an opportunity to discover the capital, its history, and the surrounding Gran Sasso landscape. It is an invitation for the public to enjoy summer evenings outdoors in one of the most distinctive art cities of the central Apennines.