Il Padiglione delle Meraviglie

Il Padiglione delle Meraviglie: a stage in the green heart of the Caffarella

In September 2025, the Caffarella Valley, the green heart of the Appia Antica Regional Park in Rome, hosted the inaugural edition of Il Padiglione delle Meraviglie. The Appia Antica Regional Park House at Vigna Cardinali (entrance from Largo Tacchi Venturi, in the Appio Latino district) was transformed into an open-air stage where theatre, poetry, music, and collective memory intertwined, recreating the convivial atmosphere of a village festival in the middle of the Capital.

A widespread festival of theatre, poetry, and music

The programme was divided into several sections spread over three weeks in September. Musical direction was entrusted to Tosca, while Massimo Venturiello curated the texts for a project that turned the performing arts into a meeting point between tradition and contemporary life.

• La Festa d'Ognissanti - directed by Marco Grossi with the Malalingua company, in dialogue with the exhibition-workshop "La Mensa di Francesco" by Maestro Antonio Catalano.
• Poetry Village - the third edition of the poetry festival, featuring around forty voices from contemporary poetry and literature.
• Storie di Resistenza - scripts curated by Massimo Venturiello with musical direction by Tosca.
• SETTeTe! Live Podcast - hosted by Simona Oppedisano.
• Polvere di Stelle - a tribute to the history of Cinecittà and the great Italian screenwriters.

Culture, memory, and community

Designed with children in mind, featuring shows, an exhibition, a workshop, and a podcast, the festival wove together local history, memory, and participatory practices. The initiative, promoted by Don Chisciotte S.r.l. in collaboration with the Humus Association, won the "Artes et Iubilaeum" public call and was supported by the Rome Capital Culture Department.

A free experience in the Appia Antica Park

Admission to all events was free, subject to availability. The natural setting of the Caffarella Valley, one of the most evocative archaeological and agricultural landscapes in Rome and the entire Lazio region, made every evening an opportunity to rediscover the pleasure of gathering outdoors among olive trees, Roman ruins, and the sound of cicadas.

An event to watch

Launched in 2025 as its first edition, the festival established itself as one of the most original cultural offerings of the Roman summer. Dates for a new edition have not yet been announced; updates will be published on the official channels of Rome Capital and the Appia Antica Regional Park Authority.