International Fresco Week
The village of Treglio transforms into an open-air museum
About Fresco Week
An open-air museum in the Abruzzo hills
The International Fresco Week is the event that made Treglio famous, a small town in the province of Chieti overlooking the hills that slope down toward the Trabocchi Coast in Abruzzo. Since 2001, the event has enlivened the historic center every summer, where the walls of private homes become canvases: painters and students create new frescoes using the ancient 'buon fresco' technique, turning the entire village into a true open-air museum that now houses over one hundred permanent works.
An open-air workshop for everyone
The heart of the week is the workshop-site: under the guidance of master fresco painters, dozens of students learn the techniques of fresco and sgraffito firsthand. The works tell the story of the Treglio community, featuring scenes of rural life, ancient crafts, harvest cycles, and family affection. Each edition adds new paintings to the village's heritage, in a process of collective growth involving established artists, young students, and residents.
More than just painting
Alongside the workshops, the event offers practical classes, guided tours of the painted village, exhibitions, book presentations, and social gatherings. A highlight is the gastronomic event in the Villa Comunale, an evening picnic with local specialties and live music that brings residents and visitors together in the heart of the village.
An identity for Treglio
Thanks to this initiative, promoted by the Treglio Affresco Cultural Association, this small Abruzzo town has built a strong and recognizable cultural identity over the years, becoming a destination for slow tourism and art lovers. Walking through the alleys of Treglio means reading the history of a community that has chosen shared beauty as the hallmark of its territory.
Fresco Week — edition 2026
2026 Edition: The 26th Fresco Week
From July 6 to 10, 2026, Treglio hosted the 26th edition of the International Fresco Week, with ten artists and over twenty students engaged in the workshop-site, including students from the 'G. d'Annunzio' Institute of Lanciano.
The four new works
- Vico Storto — 'Great-grandfather and grandchildren in the Treglio countryside', dedicated to generational transition and rural roots;
- Via Centrale — 'Ancient cellar with wine storage and production', focusing on the wine cycle from harvest to bottling;
- a school-wall with frames and decorations, reserved for students to practice fresco and sgraffito techniques;
- the conservative restoration of an important fresco at the village Forno (oven), entrusted to master Giovanni Sogne.
Side events
On Wednesday, July 8, at 7:00 PM, the gastronomic event 'Pennellate di Gusto — Picnic and Notes in the Villa' enlivened the Villa Comunale with local specialties and music by William Verì. Guided tours and practical workshops were also scheduled in the following days.
Programme Fresco Week 2026
- July 3 — Press conference and presentation of the edition (Town Hall Council Chamber)
- July 6-10 — Workshop-sites in the historic center: creation of new works and restoration of the Forno fresco
- July 8, 7:00 PM — 'Pennellate di Gusto — Picnic and Notes in the Villa' at Villa Comunale, with music by William Verì
- July 11, 4:00 PM — Guided tours and practical fresco and sgraffito workshops
Highlights Fresco Week 2026
- Four new works and over one hundred permanent frescoes
- Workshop-site with ten artists and more than twenty students
- Restoration of the Forno fresco by master Giovanni Sogne
- 'Pennellate di Gusto' picnic in Villa Comunale with live music
Prices Fresco Week 2026
Practical information — Fresco Week
Getting there
Treglio is located in the province of Chieti, a few kilometers from Lanciano and the Trabocchi Coast. By car: A14 motorway exit Lanciano-Val di Sangro, then provincial roads toward the village. The nearest train station is in Lanciano.
Admission
Visiting the painted village is free and open all year round. During Fresco Week, workshops, classes, and guided tours are open to the public; some activities require booking.
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Where does it take place — Fresco Week
Centro storico di Treglio