PaceFest

A peace festival in the heart of the Sicani Mountains

PaceFest is the cultural event that enlivens Caltabellotta every summer, a picturesque village in the province of Agrigento, Sicily, known as the "City of Peace." For four evenings, the Villa Comunale becomes an arena for civil debate where words, testimonies, and art merge to reflect on themes of peace, justice, legality, and memory.

The festival is conceived and curated by the Fuoririga association, directed by journalist Gero Tedesco alongside colleague Michele Ruvolo, with Manuela Lino serving as president. The formula is well-established: a packed program of meetings, debates, book presentations, and performances designed to stimulate awareness and promote concrete action against the mafia, corruption, and indifference.

Words, testimonies, and civil commitment

Each edition revolves around a central theme and gives space to authoritative voices from investigative journalism, the judiciary, and civil society. Topics range from unresolved judicial cases and the fight against organized crime to migration, human rights, the environment, and water as a common good. The heart of the event is the PaceFest Award, presented annually to an individual who has distinguished themselves in the pursuit of truth and legality.

More than just words: theater, music, and activities for children

Alongside the discussions, PaceFest offers theatrical performances, monologues, poetry slams, and tribute concerts that bring the evenings to life. There is also space for children with PaceFest Kids, featuring workshops and guided tours that turn the little ones into "ambassadors of the City of Peace." The Peace Walking tours also allow visitors to discover the historical and landscape heritage of Caltabellotta, from its churches and the Norman castle to the sweeping views of the Sicani Mountains.

A free event open to all

Admission to PaceFest is free: the event aims to be an occasion for collective participation, capable of attracting an attentive audience eager for discussion to Caltabellotta. In a small town in the Agrigento hinterland, the festival has become a cultural landmark of the Sicilian summer, a place where civil reflection meets the beauty of the territory.