International Neighborhood Festival

Neighborhood as Heritage

The International Neighborhood Festival is one of the initiatives of the Matera Mediterranean Capital of Culture 2026 program, included in the thematic section 'Isolamenti'. The underlying idea is simple and profound: to reinterpret geographical peripherality not as a margin but as a laboratory of resilience and spirituality, centering human relationships and the sense of community.

In Matera, a city where the 'neighborhood' — the ancient system of dwellings gathered around a common space in the Sassi — is a constitutive part of the urban identity, this festival takes on a particular significance.

The Canticle of the Creatures

Among the most significant moments of the day are the multilingual collective readings of the Canticle of the Creatures, the famous composition by Saint Francis of Assisi, which becomes a symbol of community, brotherhood, and connection between people. A choral gesture that spans languages and neighborhoods of the city.

Atmosphere and Context

The festival is part of the broad program of Matera 2026, organized by the Matera Basilicata Foundation, and is linked to the 'Terre Immerse' (Immersed Lands) vision, a journey into Mediterranean complexity. It is an opportunity to experience the community and participatory dimension of the Capital of Culture, far from large spectacular events and close to the people.