I Luoghi della Musica
International itinerant chamber music festival in Irpinia
About I Luoghi della Musica
An itinerant festival in the heart of Irpinia
I Luoghi della Musica is an international chamber music festival that every summer transforms the churches, cloisters, historic gardens, and archaeological parks of the province of Avellino into concert halls scattered across the region. The festival is organized by the A. Toscanini International Music Academy, is officially recognized by the Ministry of Culture, and is under the artistic direction of pianist Antonella De Vinco. It traditionally begins in the town of Atripalda, just a few kilometers from the provincial capital, where the Church of S. Maria delle Grazie hosts the opening evenings.
Music meeting its surroundings
The core concept of the festival is reflected in its name: it is not merely a series of concerts, but a journey where the location is an integral part of the listening experience. Each venue is chosen for its historical, architectural, or scenic value, ensuring that the acoustics of a 17th-century nave, the silence of a cloister, or the view of an Irpinian valley become elements of the performance itself. This formula blends live entertainment with slow cultural tourism, leading audiences to discover villages that would rarely appear on a standard musical itinerary.
A vast repertoire, from Baroque to jazz
The programming is intentionally diverse and changes from year to year. Past editions have featured:
- chamber duos and trios with classical ensembles (piano, violin, clarinet, flute, guitar);
- pieces from the European operatic and lieder repertoire, often paired with classic Neapolitan songs;
- forays into jazz and its Mediterranean and South American influences;
- projects that weave music and spoken word, featuring narrators and poetic texts;
- organ concerts and events held in local sanctuaries and abbeys.
Renowned masters and young talents
Alongside established performers, often from abroad, the festival dedicates several evenings each year to young talents in concert: conservatory students and graduates who find here one of their first opportunities to perform before a live audience. This choice is consistent with the nature of the Toscanini Academy, which is primarily an educational institution, making the festival a showcase for the rising stars of Italian chamber music.
Atripalda, the gateway
Atripalda, a town of just over ten thousand inhabitants on the Sabato River, is the historic home of the festival. The town preserves the archaeological site of ancient Abellinum, a Roman city where thermal baths, domus, and sections of the walls are still visible, as well as the Specus Martyrum, the early Christian shrine linked to the cult of Saint Hippolytus. Over the various editions, the Atripalda concerts have taken place between the Church of S. Maria delle Grazie, the Cloister of S. Maria della Purità, and the Abellinum Archaeological Park: three sites that tell the story of the local history.
A festival spread across the province
After the opening in Atripalda, the festival becomes itinerant, reaching many centers in Irpinia—from Gesualdo, home of the madrigalist prince Carlo Gesualdo, to Grottaminarda, from Mercogliano with the Sanctuary of Montevergine to Summonte, Montemiletto, Montefredane, Montefalcione, Manocalzati, Parolise, and San Potito Ultra—with stops even extending beyond the provincial borders, reaching as far as Naples. The calendar thus extends well beyond the summer, covering several weeks between July and autumn.
Why it is worth visiting
The festival is one of the simplest and most affordable ways to explore inland Campania: symbolic ticket prices, often just a few euros, evening performances at dusk in places that are usually closed or rarely visited, and a welcoming local audience. For those visiting Irpinia in summer, combining a concert with a day among the vineyards of Fiano, Greco di Tufo, and Taurasi is an experience that unites music, landscape, and gastronomy in a single itinerary.
I Luoghi della Musica — edition 2026
The 34th edition of the international chamber music festival I Luoghi della Musica was inaugurated on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at the Church of S. Maria delle Grazie in Atripalda, before a large audience and in the presence of Mayor Paolo Spagnuolo and local civil and religious authorities.
The guiding theme chosen for 2026 is Genius Loci: historical and natural sites are not passive backdrops, but active elements of an acoustic and cultural experience designed as immersive cultural tourism. Under the artistic direction of Maestro Antonella De Vinco, the program alternates between great masters and young performers, with a repertoire ranging from Baroque to contemporary, including jazz and its various influences.
After the Atripalda evenings in late July, the festival continues until the end of September, touching numerous centers in the province of Avellino—including Gesualdo, Grottaminarda, Manocalzati, Mercogliano, Montefalcione, Montemiletto, Montefredane, Parolise, San Potito Ultra, and Summonte—with events also held outside the province, in Aversa and Naples, where the highlight is the performance in the Sala Rari of the National Library.
Programme I Luoghi della Musica 2026
Opening evenings in Atripalda — Church of S. Maria delle Grazie, 8:15 PM
- Saturday, July 25 — Divagazioni, Trio Felix: Marilena Gaudio (soprano), Giacomo Piepoli (clarinet), Flavio Peconio (piano). A program spanning European operatic and chamber repertoire—with pieces by Bellini, Verdi, and Puccini—to the melodies of classic Neapolitan songs.
- Sunday, July 26 — Ombre sull'acqua, with Moira Michelini (piano) and Andrea Giuli (narrator): music and literature intertwine, featuring a reading of the sonnet Canto di Gaza by Massimiliano Longobardo.
- Tuesday, July 28 — Young talents in concert, with pianist Federico Pizzutelli, featuring works by Satie, Debussy, Gershwin, and original compositions with a jazz-progressive feel.
The rest of the festival
The festival continues until the end of September 2026 with concerts hosted in churches, cloisters, castles, historic gardens, and archaeological sites of the participating Irpinian towns, in addition to stops outside the province in Aversa and Naples. The detailed calendar of individual evenings is announced progressively by the organization and local press: it is recommended to contact the Toscanini Academy secretariat for updated dates and locations.
Highlights I Luoghi della Musica 2026
- 34th edition, themed Genius Loci: music in dialogue with the spirit of the places.
- Inauguration on July 25 in Atripalda with Trio Felix and the Divagazioni program, featuring European opera and classic Neapolitan songs.
- The Ombre sull'acqua project, combining piano and narrator.
- The evening dedicated to young talents with pianist Federico Pizzutelli.
- Over ten Irpinian towns involved, plus stops in Aversa and Naples (Sala Rari of the National Library).
- Artistic direction by Maestro Antonella De Vinco and recognition by the Ministry of Culture.
Prices I Luoghi della Musica 2026
Practical information — I Luoghi della Musica
How to get there
Atripalda is located about 3 km from Avellino, in Campania. By car: A16 Naples-Canosa motorway, exit Avellino Est, then follow signs for the town center. By train: Avellino station, connected by local buses to Atripalda; from Naples, Air Campania bus services are available. Other festival locations are easily accessible by car along the SS7 Appia and SS90 delle Puglie roads.
Tickets
Admission to the concerts is at a symbolic price (single tickets for a few euros, with season passes available for multiple evenings). Reductions and free entry are provided for members of the Toscanini Academy, children, and people with disabilities. Some events are free of charge.
Information
The secretariat of the A. Toscanini International Music Academy can be reached at +39 333 3360294, every day from 10:00 to 19:00. The full program is announced periodically by the local Irpinian press and the channels of the host municipalities.
Tips
Most concerts take place outdoors or in unheated historic buildings: it is advisable to bring a light jacket even in mid-summer, as evenings in Irpinia can be cool. Arriving early is recommended, as seating is unreserved.
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Where does it take place — I Luoghi della Musica
Chiesa di S. Maria delle Grazie