Ombre Festival

The festival that sheds light on the shadows

Ombre Festival is the premier summer cultural event in the Tuscia region. For nearly a month, between July and August, the medieval squares of Viterbo become a sprawling stage where writers, journalists, magistrates, politicians, and artists engage with the public on the darker aspects of contemporary life. Debates, book presentations, and performances follow one another night after night—all with free admission—making the 'City of Popes' one of the most vibrant cultural hubs of the Lazio summer.

An idea born from the State Police

The festival was born from an intuition by Alessandro Maurizi, a State Police inspector and Mondadori novelist, who serves as its artistic director and president of the Associazione delle Ombre. The association is composed of law enforcement officers who dedicate their free time to cultural volunteering. From the beginning, the goal has been to showcase the human face of the uniform and promote a culture of legality through dialogue: by understanding and navigating the shadows, we can gain a more conscious perspective on the present. Edition after edition, the event has grown to attract major names from Italian publishing, journalism, and public institutions.

The 2026 edition: freedom, legality, and Saint Francis

The seventh edition, scheduled from July 5 to August 1, 2026, features over ninety events between Viterbo and Tuscania, where the festival stops from July 18 to 26. The central theme is the relationship between freedom and legality, with a special section dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi on the 800th anniversary of his death, focusing on peace, dialogue, and fraternity. The opening is entrusted to Giuseppe Cruciani, who will present his new book in a national premiere in the courtyard of Palazzo dei Priori, while the closing on August 1 will feature prosecutor Nicola Gratteri.

The guests

The 2026 lineup brings together prominent figures of Italian public life: Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, Bruno Vespa, Mario Giordano, Serena Bortone, Pietro Grasso, Luca Palamara, Gennaro Sangiuliano, Alessandro Di Battista, Stefano Bonaccini, Michele Emiliano, Gabriele Corsi, Federico Palmaroli, Massimo Polidoro, Luigi de Magistris, Filippo Roma, Federica Angeli, Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy, Catena Fiorello, and poet Davide Rondoni, as well as the testimony of a 'Ndrangheta justice collaborator.

The venues: from Palazzo dei Priori to Tuscania

The heart of the festival is the courtyard of Palazzo dei Priori, the seat of the Viterbo Municipality overlooking Piazza del Plebiscito. Events also enliven Piazza del Gesù, Piazza della Repubblica, and Piazza San Lorenzo in the heart of the medieval district. In Tuscania, events take place throughout the village, including the evocative Largo Torre di Lavello.

Viterbo and the Tuscia region

Supported by the Municipality of Viterbo with the patronage of the Lazio Region, the Prefecture, and the State Police, Ombre Festival is also an invitation to discover the Viterbo Tuscia: the medieval San Pellegrino district, the Palace of the Popes, the thermal baths, and, just a few kilometers away, the Etruscan and Romanesque wonders of Tuscania. It is an opportunity to combine culture, current affairs, and slow tourism in the heart of Upper Lazio.