ResiFest

A festival of cultural resistance in the heart of Cilento

ResiFest is a young yet already distinctive event, born from the initiative of the local ANPI Agropoli branch and grown in collaboration with the Brigada association. The festival takes place in the town of Agropoli, in the Province of Salerno, in the heart of Cilento and southern Campania. It offers a format that is both simple and profound: two consecutive days in July where words, images, and live music tell the story of resistance in all its forms—not just historical, but also the civil and artistic resistance of the present day.

The name, a play on the root of «resistance», declares its intent: to keep anti-fascist memory and the values of the Constitution alive by putting them in dialogue with current events, migration, the issue of peace, and the languages of new generations.

From the first 2025 edition to the Trentova oasis

The first edition took place in July 2025 at the Villaggio dei Pini, in the Torre di Paestum area, with a clear structure: meetings with journalists and historians, screenings, photographic exhibitions, evening concerts, and communal dining. The positive response encouraged the organizers to continue, involving the Brigada association in the programming.

Since 2026, the festival has found a charming new home: the Trentova-Tresino Visitor Centre, a facility immersed in the natural oasis that opens up south of Agropoli, within the perimeter of the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park. The greenery, olive trees, and proximity to the Trentova bay completely change the atmosphere: moving from the town square to the landscape, the evenings take on a broader scope, between sunsets over the Tyrrhenian Sea and concerts under the stars.

Talks, testimonies, and current affairs

The backbone of ResiFest is the program of talks, always scheduled for the first part of the evening, when the temperature drops and the audience settles in. Local historians, independent publishers, investigative journalists, representatives of the national and provincial ANPI, and activists take turns discussing themes ranging from the history of Cilento's anti-fascism to the war economy, from international solidarity to the rights of people on the move. These are not academic lectures: the tone is that of public storytelling, with plenty of questions from the audience.

Live music and the independent scene

After the talks, the music begins. ResiFest does not rely on big summer headliners, but rather on a selection of independent bands and projects from the South and beyond: rock, electronica, sound systems, singer-songwriters, and Mediterranean and Arabic sounds. It is a choice consistent with the festival's identity, which aims to be a showcase for emerging artists and independent music production. Performances are concentrated between 9 PM and late night, with times announced with almost ironic precision to the minute.

Exhibitions, live art, and visual languages

• Documentary and photographic exhibitions, dedicated to stories of contemporary resistance and the memory of 20th-century events
• Historical exhibits curated by the provincial ANPI of Salerno, including the story of the founding mothers of the Constitution
• Live art performances: artists painting and drawing live during the evenings, with works created in front of the audience
• Street art and militant graphics, with stalls featuring posters and self-produced prints

Cuisine, stalls, and conviviality

As in any popular Cilento festival, food is not a detail. At ResiFest, food stalls offer simple dishes at affordable prices, with an eye toward symbolic meaning: in the first edition, the anti-fascist pasta, the dish linked to the memory of the Cervi family, was served alongside Palestinian culinary specialties, highlighting the link between historical memory and current solidarity. Food and drink areas remain open throughout the evenings.

A free event open to all

Admission to ResiFest is free for all parts: talks, exhibitions, and concerts. This choice makes the festival particularly suitable for families, groups of friends, and tourists who find themselves in Agropoli during the peak summer season and are looking for an evening different from standard beach entertainment. The environment is informal, with seating and ample outdoor spaces.

Agropoli and Cilento around the festival

Agropoli is one of the gateways to Cilento: the old town with its Angevin-Aragonese castle, the port, the beaches, and its proximity to the temples of Paestum and the coast of Santa Maria di Castellabate make it an ideal base for a weekend. Those arriving for ResiFest can easily combine the festival evenings with a morning at the beach in Trentova bay, a hike on the trail connecting Trentova to Tresino, or an archaeological visit to the Paestum area, a short distance along the coast.