InCastro – Festival of Thought
Three days of neuroscience, critical thinking, and outreach in Piazza Matteotti
About InCastro
A festival centered on thought
InCastro – Festival of Thought is a scientific outreach event that the Municipality of Grotte di Castro, in the province of Viterbo, dedicates every July to the workings of the mind and the practice of critical thinking. Launched in 2025 by the municipal administration and scientific director Professor Francesco Orzi, the festival quickly became an event recognized well beyond the borders of Tuscia, bringing prominent names in Italian research to this small village in the Upper Tuscia region.
Where it takes place
The heart of the event is Piazza Matteotti, in the historic center of Grotte di Castro, which transforms into an open-air auditorium every afternoon. Mornings are held at the Casa di Comunità, which hosts labs and workshops, while exhibitions and installations animate the town's streets and spaces. We are in northern Lazio, just a few kilometers from Lake Bolsena, in a volcanic territory known for its tuff stone, the local PGI Alto Viterbese potato, and Etruscan necropolises—a setting that makes the trip worthwhile even for those coming from outside the region.
What to see and hear
The program is built on three pillars that alternate throughout the day:
- Afternoon lectures in the square, the core of the festival: short talks by researchers and university professors, conducted in dialogue with the audience.
- Morning labs and workshops, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, featuring cognitive and sensory experiences, scientific games, and activities suitable for younger participants.
- Evening shows, where science meets comedy, illusionism, and theatrical storytelling.
These three strands are complemented by art exhibitions, display stands, and tastings of local products, linking the educational aspect to the agricultural and artisanal heritage of the area.
Recurring themes
Past editions have covered neuroscience, ethology, philosophy of science, bioethics, psychoanalysis, and artificial intelligence, with one constant thread: understanding how opinions are formed, why cognitive biases deceive us, and what it means to evaluate scientific evidence today. This is a festival that requires no prior expertise: the language is accessible and the approach is intentionally inclusive.
Access and audience
The lectures are free to attend, a choice that has contributed to the growing participation recorded since the very first edition. The audience is diverse: residents of the lake towns, science enthusiasts from Viterbo and Rome, families, and students. The intimate size of the village encourages direct exchange with the speakers, who remain in town for the entire day.
Why it's worth the trip
InCastro is a successful example of how a small municipality in Lazio can build a national-level cultural offering without sacrificing its identity. Attendees usually combine the lectures with a visit to the historic center, the Church of Santa Maria del Suffragio, and the shores of Lake Bolsena, just a ten-minute drive away: a weekend that brings together thought, landscape, and the cuisine of Tuscia.
InCastro — edition 2026
Second edition, July 10-12, 2026
Following its 2025 debut, InCastro returned to Grotte di Castro with an expanded program and the patronage of the University of Tuscia. The event also obtained the use of the logo for Viterbo Tuscia European Capital of Culture 2033, the first initiative outside the provincial capital to receive it. The format remained the same: workshops in the morning, lectures in the square in the afternoon, and shows in the evening.
A prominent scientific cast
Speakers included Enrico Alleva of the Accademia dei Lincei, Gilberto Corbellini and Francesca Grassi from Sapienza University, Francesco Fornai from the University of Pisa, Pietro Pietrini from the IMT School of Lucca, and Sauro Succi from the Italian Institute of Technology. Alongside scientific reports, the square hosted the Stand up for Science show and performances by illusionist Luca Terranova.
Programme InCastro 2026
Friday, July 10
- 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM, Casa di Comunità — Presentation of the INNOVITAM project by the IFFSS Foundation.
- 4:20 PM, Piazza Matteotti — Opening and greetings from Mayor Antonio Rizzello and university representatives.
- 5:00 PM — Francesca Grassi (Sapienza): Brain electrical activity and thought.
- 5:40 PM — Francesco Fornai (University of Pisa): Anatomy of thinking.
- 6:20 PM — Neri Accornero: Evolutionary convergence between biology and technology.
- Followed by Alessandro Zocchi on reasoning and Bayes' theorem.
- 9:30 PM — Stand up for Science with Alberto Agliotti and Francesco Giorda.
Saturday, July 11
- 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM, Casa di Comunità — Workshops with Nicoletta Lanciano (rethinking humanity and the planet), Giacinto Sabellotti (interactive neuroscience game), Valentina Simonetti (plant cognition), and FabLab Lazio Innova on the influence of technology on thought.
- Afternoon in the square — Mahmoud Abu Aisha on neuroscience and marketing; Enrico Alleva (Accademia dei Lincei) on bird cognition in cities; Maurizio Balistreri on love and artificial intelligence; Elena Gagliasso on the role of metaphors in science; Mauro Palma on the deprivation of liberty and the fragility of rights.
Sunday, July 12
- 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM, Casa di Comunità — Repeat of workshops and final quiz with the public.
- Afternoon in the square — Pietro Pietrini (IMT School Lucca) on how we make decisions; Gilberto Corbellini (Sapienza) on prejudices and vaccinations; Francesco Forastiere on scientific evidence; Sauro Succi (IIT) on the time of silicon; Milena De Santis and Stefano Vinciarelli on the centenary of Umberto Nobile's expedition.
Collateral exhibition
From July 9 to 19, at Via Vittorio Veneto 13, the sculpture exhibition Thinkers 2026 by Simone Sirna.
Highlights InCastro 2026
- Afternoon lectures in Piazza Matteotti hosted by Paolo Conte (Rai Radio3) with scientific direction by Francesco Orzi.
- Stand up for Science, an evening of scientific comedy with Alberto Agliotti and Francesco Giorda.
- Performances by illusionist Luca Terranova, Italian magic champion.
- Morning workshops at the Casa di Comunità, from neuroscience games to FabLab Lazio Innova.
- The sculpture exhibition Thinkers 2026 by Simone Sirna.
- The centenary of Umberto Nobile's polar expedition, recounted on the final day.
Prices InCastro 2026
Practical information — InCastro
How to get there
By car: from Rome, take the SS Cassia road to Viterbo, then continue towards Bolsena and Grotte di Castro (about 2 hours). From Orvieto, it is just over 30 minutes via Castel Giorgio. By train: Orvieto station on the Florence–Rome line, then bus or taxi to Upper Tuscia; alternatively, Viterbo Porta Fiorentina station with Cotral bus connections.
Admission
Lectures and meetings are free to attend, subject to availability in Piazza Matteotti. For morning workshops at the Casa di Comunità, it is recommended to check the official website for any booking requirements.
Tips
Seating in the square fills up in the late afternoon: it is best to arrive early. For accommodation, there are farmhouses and B&Bs in Grotte di Castro, Bolsena, and Gradoli. Recommended pairing: a swim in Lake Bolsena and a taste of the PGI Alto Viterbese potato in local restaurants.
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Where does it take place — InCastro
Piazza Matteotti
Piazza Matteotti, 01025 Grotte di Castro