Performance "Saint Francis and Cino Del Duca"

One square, two stories

The Performance "Saint Francis and Cino Del Duca" is a theatrical representation that takes place in Montedinove, a hilly village in the province of Ascoli Piceno, in the heart of southern Marche, a stone's throw from the Sibillini Mountains. The event, curated by the Sidanza Company, is held outdoors in Piazza Cino Del Duca, the main square of the town, and is promoted by the Municipality of Montedinove.

Saint Francis, in the year of the eighth centenary

The title of the performance brings together two names deeply linked to the area. The first is that of Saint Francis of Assisi: 2026 is a special year, as it marks the eighth centenary of the saint's death (1226-2026), celebrated throughout Italy with a packed calendar of religious and cultural initiatives. Even a small village like Montedinove thus participates, in its own way, in this national commemoration, bringing the Franciscan message to the square.

Cino Del Duca, the great publisher born here

The second name is that of Cino Del Duca, after whom the square hosting the performance is named. Born in Montedinove in 1899, Del Duca became one of the most important publishers of the 20th century, active between Italy and France: he founded famous popular magazines such as Il Monello, L'Intrepido, and Grand Hotel, he was a film producer of auteur films and honorary president of Ascoli Calcio, to which the city stadium "Cino e Lillo Del Duca" is dedicated. Bringing Saint Francis and Cino Del Duca together in a single performance means telling together the spirituality and the great cultural history that run through this corner of the Piceno.

An outdoor, free event, during the town's feast

The performance is part of the events of the Feast of Saint Thomas Becket of Canterbury, patron saint of Montedinove, which enlivens the village on the first Sunday of June with masses, a market fair, and food stalls. The theatrical representation thus enriches the feast's program with a cultural moment, offered free of charge to the community and visitors, in the evocative setting of the historic center.

Why it's worth going

Attending this performance is an opportunity to discover Montedinove and the hinterland of Ascoli Piceno on one of its liveliest days, combining a walk through the village, the patronal feast, and a theatrical event that tells the dual soul of the town, between faith and culture.