Incontri Visivi

An independent festival in the heart of Testaccio

Incontri Visivi is one of the most vibrant entities in the Roman independent art scene. For several years, the event has occupied the cloisters and theater of the Villaggio Globale, a social center housed within the industrial spaces of the Ex Mattatoio in Testaccio, one of the most evocative and historically layered sites in the City of Rome, in the Lazio region. Here, in a working-class neighborhood that also serves as a cultural hub for the capital, the festival brings together artists, photographers, illustrators, graphic designers, filmmakers, collectives, and independent publishers for two days of free-entry programming.

The Photobook & Illustration Fair

The beating heart of the event is the Photobook & Illustration Fair, dedicated to photobooks and illustration. At the stalls, you will encounter independent publishers, self-produced works, fanzines, and projects from all over Italy: a space to browse, discover, and purchase photobooks, prints, and research-based publications, as well as to engage directly with the authors. It serves as a precious observatory of contemporary visual publishing and its experiments.

Exhibitions, talks, screenings, and music

A dense, multidisciplinary program unfolds around the fair. The halls and courtyards of the Villaggio Globale host exhibitions and installations, while the days are punctuated by talks, editorial presentations, screenings of documentaries, live performances, and musical sets. The stated goal is to connect different forms of artistic expression, foster cross-pollination, and give a voice to younger, experimental visual research, often linked to the social, political, and environmental issues of our time.

The Villaggio Globale and the Ex Mattatoio

The setting is an integral part of the experience. The Ex Mattatoio in Testaccio, a jewel of 19th-century industrial archaeology, is now a major cultural hub that coexists with artistic and multicultural communities. The Villaggio Globale, with its raw spaces and history of self-management, offers the festival an informal and convivial atmosphere, far from institutional circuits: food, drinks, and DJ sets accompany the day, inviting the public to enjoy the spaces at a leisurely pace.

A landmark for the contemporary visual scene

Born as a small exhibition and having grown edition after edition, Incontri Visivi has become a point of reference for those who love auteur photography, illustration, and independent publishing in Rome. Each year, a different theme guides the selection of artists and projects, providing a clear and passionate look at the role of the image in today's world. It is an ideal opportunity for both locals and visitors to discover the capital's emerging art scene in a unique setting in Lazio.