Rigenera Festival

A festival regenerating a high-altitude village

The Rigenera Festival is a multidisciplinary cultural event held in the Municipality of Calascio, in the province of L'Aquila, in the heart of Abruzzo. Set in one of the highest villages in the Apennines, dominated by the dramatic Rocca di Calascio overlooking the Gran Sasso massif, the festival blends theatre, music, dance, and literature along a path that winds through the village's stone streets, squares, and churches.

Born from a regeneration project

The festival is part of the pilot project "Rocca Calascio – Luce d'Abruzzo", selected by the Abruzzo Region under the PNRR (Ministry of Culture, measure M1.C3 "Attractiveness of villages", funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU). Conceived as a three-year initiative, it aims to awaken the appeal of the historic village through culture, countering the depopulation of inland mountain areas with art, participation, and new local economies.

A programme between memory and landscape

Each edition revolves around a theme that reinterprets the mountain territory. The artistic direction is entrusted to Teatri Riuniti d'Abruzzo and features the participation of local publishers and cultural entities such as Radici Edizioni, Il Viandante, and the Bradamante Teatro company. The typical calendar includes:

• book presentations and meetings with authors as part of the "Libri d'Alta Quota" series;
• theatrical performances and readings in the village squares and churches;
• concerts and musical performances, often set at the Rocca;
• residential theatre workshops and community theatre with local youth;
• artistic installations and themed routes through the alleys.

An immersive experience in the Apennines

More than just a series of events, the Rigenera Festival offers an immersive cultural experience: spectators are invited to experience the village of Calascio as a widespread stage, where the Gran Sasso landscape becomes an integral part of the narrative. It is an event that combines the discovery of one of Abruzzo's iconic landmarks with reflection on memory, land stewardship, and the future of mountain communities.

Information on the 2026 edition

The festival is a three-year event, and the dates for the 2026 edition have not yet been officially announced. The first two editions took place in the first half of August: for updates, it is best to follow the channels of the Municipality of Calascio and Teatri Riuniti d'Abruzzo.