Mathematics Festival

Mathematics takes to the streets in Pettorano sul Gizio

There is one afternoon a year when the historic center of Pettorano sul Gizio, a small medieval village in the province of L'Aquila nestled between the Gizio River and the woods of the Monte Genzana Alto Gizio Nature Reserve, completely changes its face. Its cobbled streets, ancient gates, and small squares fill with tables, games, and interactive stations: this is the Mathematics Festival, an event that has turned one of the 'Most Beautiful Villages in Italy' into a true open-air laboratory.

Learning through play

The heart of the event lies in the mathematical games, logic challenges, puzzles, and interactive workshops spread throughout the historic center. The activities are designed to demonstrate, through a practical and hands-on approach, that mathematics can be discovered while having fun. The inspiration comes from the method of Emma Castelnuovo, a historic figure in Italian education who made 'doing' and 'touching' the key to bringing young people closer to numbers and shapes.

It is no coincidence that the event is truly aimed at everyone: children, teenagers, families, and curious people 'from 0 to 99 years old'. No formulas or special knowledge are required, just curiosity and a desire to get involved. Participation is free and open to anyone who wants to spend a few hours between a puzzle and a logic challenge, strolling through the village.

A project linked to the summer school

The Mathematics Festival is not an isolated event: it was born within the 'Laboratoriamo' Summer School for Teachers, organized by Sintab Srl - Sintab Academy, which brings over 150 preschool, primary, and middle school teachers to Pettorano every year. The festival in the village is the moment when didactic research leaves the classrooms and becomes a public spectacle, involving the entire community.

The initiative is carried out with the collaboration of the Municipality of Pettorano sul Gizio, the Monte Genzana Alto Gizio Nature Reserve, the Valleluna Cooperative, the Pro Loco, and local associations, in a blend of scientific outreach, participation, and local development.

A village worth the trip

The setting is one of the most evocative in Abruzzo: Pettorano sul Gizio is the only inhabited center entirely included within the perimeter of a regional nature reserve, dominated by the majestic Cantelmo Castle and crossed by its ancient gates (Porta San Nicola, Porta del Mulino, Porta Santa Margherita, Porta San Marco). Participating in the Mathematics Festival means combining the pleasure of discovery with a walk in one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, just a few kilometers from Sulmona.