Rocka Festival

Rocka Festival: The creative soul of Capistrello

Every summer, the historic center of Capistrello, a small town in the Marsica region of L'Aquila, undergoes a vibrant transformation for one night. The Rocka Festival fills the narrow streets and the scenic Piazza della Rocca with music, art, and the aromas of local cuisine, drawing crowds from across the Marsica and the wider Abruzzo region. It is much more than a concert: it is a village festival reimagined for the modern era, where Abruzzese tradition meets the Italian indie scene.

Music, art, and food in a single evening

The festival follows a free, open-air format. Gastronomic stalls offer traditional Marsican dishes alongside street food, while the village streets host musical performances, shows, and art installations—often created live throughout the day. The stage at Piazza della Rocca hosts established singer-songwriters and indie artists, local emerging bands, and DJ sets that keep the party going late into the night.

A festival born from local youth

Rocka Festival was founded in 2013 by the Associazione Culturale Giovani di Capistrello with the goal of revitalizing the historic center, supporting local gastronomy, and providing a platform for young creativity. Over the years, the event has hosted well-known names from the Italian alternative scene while giving visibility to emerging artists from the Marsica area. Since 2025, the festival has also introduced the "Premio Capistrello," an award dedicated to figures in the world of culture and entertainment.

Capistrello and the Marsica region

Nestled along the Liri River valley at the foot of the mountains surrounding the Fucino basin, Capistrello is an inland Abruzzese village that retains a charming, compact historic center. Rocka Festival is the perfect opportunity to discover this corner of the province of L'Aquila, combining local exploration with an evening of music and conviviality.