Romadiffusa - Baroque Bend Festival

A widespread festival in the baroque heart of Rome

Romadiffusa - Baroque Bend Festival is an itinerant cultural festival that enlivens the historic center of Rome, the capital of Lazio, within the area known as the Baroque Bend: the three districts of Ponte, Parione, and Regola, nestled in the Tiber river bend between Lungotevere and Piazza Navona. For a few days, over a hundred iconic and hidden spots become stages: artisan workshops, art galleries, courtyards of historic palaces, ancient libraries and archives, museums, and historic bars and taverns open their doors to a curious public.

The philosophy: beyond the museum city

The project was born with the goal of moving beyond the rhetoric of the museum city to showcase contemporary Rome—a city of innovation, creativity, and artistic craftsmanship. For years, the team has mapped the area, selecting the most authentic spots in the historic center to provide a living, current image of a zone often reduced to a tourist postcard. The Baroque Bend Festival is the centerpiece of this cultural city-branding effort.

A multidisciplinary program

The schedule weaves together different languages and disciplines, with most events being free to access. Recurring highlights include:

• Itinerant performances and public art in squares and alleys
• Site-specific installations designed for their host locations
• Secret concerts and experimental music in libraries, archives, and museums
• Creative workshops in artisan workshops, ranging from painting to engraving
• Thematic guided tours dedicated to cinema, archaeology, and the history of the districts
• Stand-up comedy and DJ sets in historic venues

An experience to rediscover the historic center

The widespread format invites visitors to walk from one district to another, encouraging them to cross thresholds that are usually closed and discover courtyards, private studios, and spaces that are typically inaccessible. The most recent edition involved over two hundred artists, musicians, and creatives, drawing tens of thousands of visitors and cementing the Baroque Bend Festival as one of the most original cultural events in the Capital.

Organization and patronage

The festival is conceived and curated by Sara D'Agati and Maddalena Salerno, founders of the creative agency Bla Studio, and is held under the patronage of Municipality I of Rome and Rome Capital. Since 2025, the Baroque Bend Festival has been officially recognized as one of the city's official district festivals.