Raccontamiunastoria - International Storytelling Festival

A festival dedicated to the art of storytelling

Raccontamiunastoria - International Storytelling Festival is Italy's most important event entirely devoted to the art of oral storytelling, the ancient practice of live narration that has united communities around the storyteller's voice for centuries. Conceived and directed by artists Paola Balbi and Davide Bardi of the Raccontamiunastoria Cultural Association, the festival takes place in Rome, in the Lazio region, and has chosen the historic Ex Cartiera Latina—the headquarters of the Appian Way Regional Park along the famous Appian Way—as its natural home.

A program spread across the treasures of the Appian Way

The unique feature of Raccontamiunastoria is its ability to transform locations into settings for stories. Performances are not confined to stages but spread across some of the most fascinating sites in the city and its territory: from the Park of the Aqueducts to the Caffarella Valley, from the Basilica of San Sebastiano to the pine forest of Castel Fusano, and even the archaeological ruins that dot the Roman countryside. The narrated walks, or story-walks, lead the public to discover myths, legends, and stories of ancient Rome while walking through paths, olive groves, and millennia-old landmarks.

Voices from around the world

Each edition brings together over one hundred storytellers from five continents, performing in their native languages as well as in Italian and English, making the festival a true intercultural crossroads. The stage features international masters of storytelling, musicians, dancers, and artists who intertwine words, sound, and gesture. The festival is also a European reference point for the sector, having hosted the conference of the Federation for European Storytelling.

Performances, workshops, and family events

The program is rich and diverse, including:

• Storytelling performances in Italian and English, ranging from great epic cycles to folk traditions;
• Story-walks and narrated tours in the parks and archaeological sites of the Appian Way Park;
• Workshops and masterclasses with international masters, dedicated to both performance techniques and the use of storytelling in educational and psychological contexts;
• Shows and activities for children and families, with a final event immersed in the Castel Fusano pine forest;
• Live music, dance, and meetings that accompany the open-air evenings.

A cultural experience in the heart of Rome

Supported by the Lazio Region and in collaboration with the Appian Way Regional Park Authority, Raccontamiunastoria is much more than a series of shows: it is an invitation to rediscover the value of storytelling as a tool for connection, memory, and knowledge. For the Roman public and visitors alike, it is an opportunity to experience the Eternal City from an unusual perspective, following the thread of stories through nature, archaeology, and popular traditions.