Sammartinese Theater Month

A historic festival of the Viterbo summer

The Sammartinese Theater Month is one of the longest-running amateur theater festivals in the Lazio region. In 2026, it celebrates its 35th edition, cementing its status as a premier summer event in the Tuscia area. For over two weeks, featuring a mix of drama, comedy, and musical theater, audiences gather in the charming Piazza dell'Oratorio in San Martino al Cimino—a medieval village and hilltop district of the Municipality of Viterbo—for open-air evenings that begin at 9:15 PM under the summer sky of the Cimini Mountains.

The "Danilo Morucci" Sammartinese Theater Company

The festival is organized by the "Danilo Morucci" Sammartinese Theater Company APS, which was founded in the early 1980s when Mario Cutigni, who remains the president and director, began rehearsing with a group of friends in a local garage. Their official debut took place on April 21, 1982, with Goldoni's "The Mistress of the Inn"; since 1994, the company has been named in memory of Danilo Morucci, a historic figure of the group. In 2026, the company celebrates 45 years of activity, a milestone marked by a commemorative documentary and a grand celebration with members and supporters.

Sammartinese dialect on stage

The company's hallmark is its long-standing tradition of rewriting great theatrical classics—by Molière, Eduardo, Scarpetta, Viviani, and Feydeau—into the Sammartinese dialect, a local vernacular that blends Roman, Tuscan, and Umbrian-Marche influences. The result is an authentic and captivating performance style, reflecting true local life, which has taken the company on tours throughout Italy, earning awards for direction, acting, set design, and costumes.

Drama, music, and musical theater

The program alternates between dialect comedies, guest performances by companies from the provinces of Viterbo and Rome, concerts ranging from classical music to electronic, and popular musical comedies. Alongside the home company's productions, the stage hosts groups such as the Teatro di Carta of Viterbo, La Vojla of Soriano nel Cimino, and the QArt quartet from Rome, in a continuous dialogue between popular tradition and contemporary languages.

San Martino al Cimino and the Cistercian Abbey

The festival takes place in the heart of one of the most beautiful villages in the Tuscia region: San Martino al Cimino, dominated by the monumental Cistercian Abbey. In 2026, the abbey marks the 8th centenary of its consecration, an anniversary the festival celebrates with the musical show "Francesco". Piazza dell'Oratorio, the ancient space of the former cloister next to the abbey, provides a unique architectural backdrop for theater under the stars.

A local event

The festival is sponsored by the Municipality of Viterbo and the UILT (Italian Union of Free Theater) and represents a core identity event for the entire Sammartinese community, as well as an opportunity to discover the province of Viterbo and the Lazio region during the liveliest time of summer. Affordable prices and a family atmosphere make it a perfect evening for those staying between Viterbo, Lake Vico, and the Cimini Mountains.