Periferico Festival

A festival that brings theatre to the suburbs

The Periferico Festival is one of the most original events of the Estate Fiorentina: a project that deliberately chooses the suburbs as its stage, bringing quality performances to the Piagge district, on the western outskirts of Florence. Organized by the Teatri d'Imbarco Cultural Association, directed by Beatrice Visibelli and Nicola Zavagli, the festival transforms the Teatro delle Spiagge, as well as local parks, courtyards, and residential spaces, into open-air meeting points and performance venues.

Open-air urban beaches

The festival's subtitle, "Open-air urban beaches," perfectly captures its spirit: ten free evenings of drama, children's theatre, dance, music, immersive theatre, and augmented reality, structured as a true dramaturgy of the locations. Each performance interacts with the space that hosts it, contributing to the socio-cultural and urban regeneration of a district that too often remains on the fringes of the city's cultural life.

Diverse companies and artistic languages

The programme alternates between nationally renowned companies and productions by Teatri d'Imbarco itself, ranging from children's theatre to civic drama, and from live music to new technologies applied to the stage. Over the years, the festival has offered tributes to great figures of Italian and European culture, immersive shows, and events dedicated to younger audiences, with a constant focus on accessibility and free admission.

A finale for Generation Z

The festival traditionally concludes with Young Portraits On Stage, a "festival within a festival" dedicated to Generation Z, providing a platform for young artists and their unique creative languages. It is a sign of an event that looks to the future, imagining the periphery not as a boundary, but as a creative laboratory.

Florence beyond the historic centre

In a city world-renowned for its Renaissance heritage, the Periferico Festival proposes another Florence: that of working-class neighbourhoods and everyday life. For those visiting Tuscany in the summer, it is an opportunity to discover an authentic side of the regional capital, far from the queues at the Uffizi, amidst open-air theatre and local community spirit.