iART Buscemi — Immaterial Landscapes
The medieval village of Buscemi transforms into an open-air immersive theater
About Immaterial Landscapes
A festival that turns the village into a stage
In the heart of the Iblei Mountains, in Buscemi (province of Syracuse, Sicily), the iART — Immaterial Landscapes festival offers an immersive artistic experience that transcends traditional boundaries. For several evenings, the town's medieval historic center becomes a sprawling stage: theater, music, dance, digital installations, video mapping, and grand scenography blend into a collective narrative where the village itself and its inhabitants become the protagonists.
Theater in urban spaces
The theatrical program is curated by Teatro Potlach, a historic company directed by Pino Di Buduo, one of the most recognized masters of site-specific theater and the poetic transformation of urban environments. The festival's artistic direction is led by Lucenzo Tambuzzo. Performances unfold along a route that winds through streets, squares, churches, and the village's historic landmarks, highlighting the Baroque and medieval architecture and the "immaterial landscapes" of the region: oral traditions passed down through generations, peasant and pastoral heritage, and the community's ritual cycles.
Participatory art and local identity
The project focuses on participatory art: cultural associations, creative groups, artists, and residents of Buscemi take part in the creation and staging of the performances, viewed as living cultural heritage. The goal set by the artistic direction is to provide a "contemporary artistic narrative of the territory's identity and oral traditions," where art and life merge into new forms.
Buscemi Immaterial Village and the Ecomuseum
The festival is part of the broader "Buscemi Immaterial Village" project, funded by the PNRR (Mission 1, Component 3 — Culture 4.0) with European Union funds from NextGenerationEU. The project includes the revitalization of the Ecomuseum "Places of Peasant Work and Crafts," founded by Rosario Acquaviva, featuring 4K digital restoration of historical audiovisual material and the use of artificial intelligence and video mapping technologies. It is an event that unites memory, technological innovation, and the identity of a small town in southeastern Sicily.
Immaterial Landscapes — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of the iART — Immaterial Landscapes festival was held in Buscemi from May 22 to 24, 2026, organized over three consecutive evenings starting at 9:00 PM, departing from the Mother Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The route and performances
The medieval historic center was transformed into a sprawling stage, with an itinerant route crossing the village's streets, squares, and churches. The theatrical section was entrusted to Teatro Potlach, directed by Pino Di Buduo, featuring theater, dance, music, digital installations, and video mapping. Among the new features of this edition was the historical re-enactment of the "Corte dei Requisenz," inspired by a 1584 document, featuring actors in Renaissance costumes.
Inauguration of the ecomuseum
On Saturday, May 23, at 10:30 AM, the new version of the Ecomuseum "Places of Peasant Work and Crafts" was inaugurated, featuring 4K digital restoration of audiovisual material and the use of artificial intelligence and video mapping technologies. The event is part of the "Buscemi Immaterial Village" project, funded by the PNRR.
Programme Immaterial Landscapes 2026
Friday 22, Saturday 23, and Sunday 24 May
Three consecutive evenings of immersive theater in the historic center of Buscemi, starting at 9:00 PM from the Mother Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
- Theatrical section by Teatro Potlach, directed by Pino Di Buduo
- Itinerant performances blending theater, dance, music, digital installations, and video mapping along the village's streets, squares, and churches
- Historical re-enactment of the "Corte dei Requisenz," inspired by a 1584 document, with actors in Renaissance costumes
- Artistic direction by Lucenzo Tambuzzo
Saturday, May 23, 10:30 AM
Inauguration of the new version of the Ecomuseum "Places of Peasant Work and Crafts," with 4K digital restoration, artificial intelligence, and video mapping.
Highlights Immaterial Landscapes 2026
Prices Immaterial Landscapes 2026
Practical information — Immaterial Landscapes
How to get there
Buscemi is located in the Iblei Mountains, in the province of Syracuse. By car, it can be reached via the A18/A19 motorways and the internal roads of the Iblei area; the nearest airports are Catania-Fontanarossa and Comiso. Performances take place along the streets and squares of the historic center, starting at the Mother Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Hours
Festival evenings generally begin at 9:00 PM. As this is a walking tour through the village, comfortable shoes are recommended.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Immaterial Landscapes
Centro storico medievale di Buscemi