Il Liuto e il Lago

An early music festival by the lake

Il Liuto e il Lago is a small but precious festival dedicated to early music, held in Colle di Tora, a tiny village overlooking Lake Turano in the province of Rieti, Lazio. Far from the bustle of major festivals, the event focuses entirely on intimacy: a few select concerts, a small audience, and the magic of listening to the sounds of the past—the lute, the harp, and other period instruments—in a place steeped in history and silence.

La Casa del Direttore, the event's setting

The heart of the festival is La Casa del Direttore, the elegant Villa De Sanctis on Via Salvo Parodi. The villa owes its nickname to the grandfather of the former owner, a local school district director who, in the 1930s, expanded the property and commissioned frescoes by artist Arduino Angelucci, giving it the sober and refined atmosphere it retains today. Since 2018, the residence has been the home of a cultural association that organizes artist residencies, concerts, exhibitions, and workshops, promoting culture and beauty on the shores of Lake Turano.

Music of the past and art of the present

The festival's formula weaves together two languages: on one hand, early music performed by specialists who bring long-lost repertoires and instruments back to life; on the other, contemporary art, with exhibitions set up within the villa's spaces. The result is an evocative dialogue between memory and the present, where the sound of a string instrument and the works of a modern artist meet in the same room.

Colle di Tora and Lake Turano

The town of Colle di Tora stands on a peninsula bathed by the green-blue waters of Lake Turano, one of the most enchanting landscapes in the province of Rieti. The artificial lake is now a destination for hikers and nature lovers, dotted with perched villages. Attending Il Liuto e il Lago means combining musical appreciation with the discovery of a quiet, authentic corner of inland Lazio, amidst mountains, water, and small villages.

A summer event to be savored slowly

The festival takes place in the heart of summer and offers slow-paced events, designed for those seeking an intimate cultural experience rather than a large-scale event. It is the ideal opportunity to combine a trip to the lake with an afternoon of music and art in one of the most fascinating historic homes in the Turano Valley.