Mythica – International Storytelling Festival

Mythica, oral storytelling in the heart of the Appian Way

Mythica – International Storytelling Festival is the event that transforms a corner of Rome into a grand theater of the spoken word every December. The festival brings back to the center stage an ancient art: that of the narrator who entrusts voice, gesture, and rhythm with the task of reviving myths, legends, and stories from every era. Recognized by UNESCO as intangible heritage, storytelling finds here one of its most authoritative showcases in Italy, capable of weaving together oral tradition and a contemporary perspective.

A pioneering storytelling company in Italy

The festival is conceived and produced by the Raccontamiunastoria company, active since 2004 and directed by Paola Balbi and Davide Bardi, among the first in the country to dedicate themselves to the preservation and dissemination of the art of storytelling. Mythica stems from this long-term work and is promoted by the Department of Culture of Roma Capitale, integrated into the city programs that support the capital's cultural life throughout the year.

A program bridging myth, the feminine, and global voices

The common thread of Mythica is myth through the female lens: from the deities of antiquity to the heroines of folk tales, up to the condition of women in contemporary society, with forays into themes of memory, identity, and migration. Italian and international narrators from five continents take the stage, bringing to Rome oral traditions diverse in language, style, and sensibility, in an intercultural dialogue that is the hallmark of the event.

Story-walks, workshops, and artistic residencies

Alongside the evening performances, the festival offers a rich program of activities:

• Story-walks: narrated walks along the Appian Way, where storytelling blends with the discovery of the landscape and archaeological heritage;
• Training workshops on the art of storytelling, from beginner to advanced levels, with recognized certifications;
• Artistic residencies open to the public, showcasing the construction process of the performances;
• Meetings and presentations dedicated to the relationship between narration, tourism, and the territory.

Where it takes place: Rome, Municipio VIII

The heart of Mythica is the Ex Cartiera Latina, headquarters of the Appian Way Regional Park, at Via Appia Antica 42, complemented by evocative spaces such as the Basilica of San Sebastiano fuori le mura. We are in the south-east area of the city, in the territory of Municipio VIII of the Municipality of Rome, in the province of Rome, in the Lazio region: a context where the millennial history of the Regina Viarum becomes a natural backdrop for the art of storytelling.

Information and admission

Events are free to attend until capacity is reached, with reservations recommended. The complete calendar, including times and locations for individual shows, is released by the Raccontamiunastoria company and through the cultural channels of Roma Capitale.