Philosophy in Magna Graecia Festival

Philosophy returns to its roots

In Ascea, in the province of Salerno, the Philosophy in Magna Graecia Festival brings ancient thought back to the very places where it was born each spring. This was the site of Elea, the city of Parmenides and Zeno, now the archaeological park of Velia: a setting no classroom could ever replicate. The event was founded in 2012 in this very area and has since become itinerant, with stops in Greece, Basilicata, and Sicily, while always maintaining its deep bond with the Cilento region and the town of Ascea.

A festival designed for teenagers

It is one of the few philosophical festivals tailored specifically for high school students: here, philosophy is not a lecture but a shared practice, built on questions, listening, physical movement, and writing. Students arrive from all over Italy with their teachers and stay in the area for several days, organized in successive shifts; the 2026 edition hosted approximately 1,800 participants. Alongside them, teachers have a dedicated space, the Agorà, to discuss community philosophy methodologies.

Dike, the wisdom of justice

The 2026 edition focuses on DIKE, the wisdom of justice. The reference is to Parmenides' poem On Nature, where Dike guards the transition from opinion to truth: an ancient theme that the festival contrasts with the most pressing current issues, from civil coexistence to the impact of artificial intelligence on schools and the very way we acquire knowledge.

How it works: dialogue, theatre, and workshops

• Philosophical dialogues with scholars and university professors, where students participate directly;
• Philosophical-theatrical walks through the Velia and Paestum excavations, featuring historical characters who meet the students along the path;
• Philosophical theatre, directed by Riccardo Marotta;
• Creative workshops: yoga, singing, expressive movement, street art, photography, radio-philosophy, and writing;
• The Empathy Workshop, a path dedicated to listening and relationships;
• The Agón, a competition between schools where each institute presents its creative work on the year's theme.

Everything concludes with a collective performance by the students, weaving together philosophy, the local territory, and educational practices.

The Parmenide Prize

The festival is associated with the Parmenide Prize, directed by philosopher Massimo Donà, which over the years has brought some of the most prominent voices in Italian philosophy to Ascea. It is the most «academic» moment of the event, but also one where students find themselves in direct contact with those who practice philosophy professionally.

Between Velia, Paestum, and Vallo della Lucania

The venues themselves tell the story of the project: the Alario Foundation for Elea-Velia in Ascea hosts lectures and plenary meetings; the Velia Archaeological Park, with its Porta Rosa and acropolis, and the Paestum park, with its Doric temples, become the natural backdrop for the walks; Vallo della Lucania hosts workshops and evening events. All this takes place within the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park, in a part of Campania that is less touristy and more authentic, just a stone's throw from the sea of Ascea Marina.

Organizers

The event is promoted by the Philosophy in Magna Graecia Festival Association, conceived and chaired by Giuseppina Russo, with scientific direction by Annalisa Di Nuzzo and methodological coordination by Salvatore Ferrara, in collaboration with local authorities and cultural entities. For schools, it is a full-immersion residential experience: students come to Cilento to study, but also to socialize and discover a lesser-known side of Southern Italy.