Reticoli – High Lands Festival

A festival weaving the threads of the High Lands

Reticoli – High Lands Festival is a cultural event held in the municipality of Prata d'Ansidonia, in the province of L'Aquila, in the heart of the Abruzzo Apennines. The festival spreads its events across the villages of San Nicandro and Tussio and the evocative archaeological site of Peltuinum, turning these locations into an open-air laboratory dedicated to the present and future of inland areas.

The name itself, Reticoli (Networks), evokes a web of invisible yet resilient threads capable of connecting towns, people, and ideas. The organizers' stated goal is to overturn the narrative of mountain marginality, restoring cultural and political significance to Apennine communities and imagining new models for living in and inhabiting these villages.

In memory of Tommaso Fasciani

The festival was founded in memory of Tommaso Fasciani, a researcher at Sapienza University of Rome and a native of San Nicandro, who passed away prematurely. His intellectual commitment to the themes of inequality, gender, and emancipation serves as a compass for the entire program. A new CAI L'Aquila hiking trail and a research grant for young scholars are dedicated to him.

Research, journalism, and activism

Reticoli focuses on investigative journalism and social research, with meetings and discussions dedicated to territorial inequalities, environmental conflicts, and the challenges faced by Apennine communities. Expected guests include sociologist Francesca Coin, writer Aurora Tamigio, and journalists such as Christian Elia, Andrea Turco, and Lorenzo Bagnoli. A highly anticipated moment is the appearance of cartoonist Zerocalcare, who will present his book Quando muori resta a me.

Music and folklore

The musical heart of the festival beats in the archaeological area of Peltuinum, featuring the punk rock energy of Bull Brigade and the participation of local artists. The program engages with Abruzzo's folk traditions through the Ballo delle Pupazze, a folkloric performance that intertwines memory and community.

An experience in the heart of Abruzzo

Set among ancient villages, archaeological sites, and Apennine landscapes, Reticoli is much more than a list of events: it is an invitation to rediscover the inland areas of Abruzzo as vibrant spaces of cultural production, hospitality, and future potential. For those who love the mountains, critical thinking, and great music, the festival offers a unique opportunity to experience the L'Aquila territory from a fresh perspective.