Musiche in Cortile

Musiche in Cortile, the musical soul of Vasto's summer

Musiche in Cortile is one of the most anticipated cultural festivals of the summer in Vasto, a city on the Trabocchi Coast in the province of Chieti, Abruzzo. Established in 2005, the event has built a distinct identity over time: bringing great singer-songwriter music, theatre, and storytelling to one of the city's most evocative settings, the Neapolitan Gardens of Palazzo d'Avalos. In 2026, the festival reaches its twenty-first edition, confirming its status as a benchmark for the Vasto Summer programme.

Palazzo d'Avalos, a unique setting

The heart of the festival is the monumental complex of Palazzo d'Avalos, a historic Renaissance residence that dominates the historic centre of Vasto and now houses the municipal art gallery, civic museums, and the famous Neapolitan Gardens. From this vantage point, the view opens up over the gulf and the Adriatic Sea, offering concert-goers a rare setting suspended between art, history, and landscape. Performances are held outdoors, generally starting at 9:00 PM, on midsummer evenings.

A line-up of great names

The hallmark of Musiche in Cortile is the quality of its programming: over the years, the festival has hosted artists such as Fiorella Mannoia, Stefano Bollani, and Paolo Fresu, alternating between singer-songwriter music and jazz, and from spoken-word theatre to folk music. Each edition weaves together concerts, readings, and theatrical performances, with a special focus on Italian singer-songwriter music and its intersections with Neapolitan and Mediterranean repertoires.

Part of the Vasto Summer

Musiche in Cortile is part of the broader Vasto Summer programme, the calendar of events that the Municipality of Vasto dedicates to the summer months, spread across the historic centre and Vasto Marina: jazz, theatre, animated readings, creative workshops, and popular festivals. The festival in the Gardens of Palazzo d'Avalos represents its musical pinnacle, with ticketed evenings designed for an audience seeking high-quality artistic offerings.

Ticket information

Concerts at Musiche in Cortile are ticketed, with advance sales managed through the CiaoTickets network, both online and at authorised sales points. The 'Carta del Docente' (Teacher's Card) is also accepted for purchases. The complete and updated programme is published on the official Vasto Summer portal.