San Lorenzo Festival of Cultures

An intercultural festival in the heart of San Lorenzo

The Festival of Cultures is an intercultural event promoted and funded by Municipio Roma II—the Department of Culture and Universities and the Department of Social Policies—in the city of Rome, the capital of the Metropolitan City of Rome and the Lazio region. Its home is the Parco delle Stelle in Largo Settimio Passamonti, a redeveloped green space in the San Lorenzo district managed by the GSL (Giovani di San Lorenzo), which transforms into an open-air stage for the entire neighborhood on summer evenings.

The festival stems from a collaboration between humanitarian and community organizations active in Rome: AMKA, which oversees the direction, alongside Energia per i Diritti Umani, Diritti al Cuore, Centro Documentazione Benny Nato, CivicoZero, Libera, Nonna Roma, Oxfam, Questa è Roma, and SOS Razzismo. This network gives the program its unique character: it is not merely a series of shows, but a blend of artistic expression and civic engagement.

What to see and hear

Each day alternates between moments of reflection and celebration. In the late afternoon, talks, book presentations, poetry readings, and personal testimonies take place; in the evening, the stage comes alive with concerts and performances, featuring a musical lineup that spans Latin American folk, Afrobeat, Italian rap, oriental dance, and collective percussion. There are also documentary screenings, photography exhibitions, and workshops open to all ages.

• Talks and debates on migration, human rights, and stereotypical narratives of continents
• Live concerts featuring world music, Latin American folk, Afrobeat, and rap
• Dance shows and community artistic performances
• Screenings of documentaries and photography exhibitions
• Participatory workshops for youth, families, and adults

A festival that has grown year after year

The first editions were held at the end of summer with a longer format: the third edition, in September 2024, spanned ten days between the Parco delle Stelle and the Welcome Center at Piazzale della Stazione Tiburtina, featuring concerts, debates, exhibitions, presentations, workshops, and dance shows. From the fourth edition onward, the event moved to early July, concentrating into four denser evenings in the same San Lorenzo space.

The common thread remains the encounter between peoples: giving a voice to communities and cultures that rarely find space in current media narratives, through music, words, and sharing. The 2025 edition paid special attention to solidarity with the Palestinian people, with daily spaces for discussion, testimony, and poetry.

San Lorenzo, a neighborhood as a backdrop

San Lorenzo is one of Rome's most distinctive neighborhoods: born as a working-class district near the Verano cemetery and the University City, it is now a reference point for student life and civic associations in the capital. Its streets, murals, historic taverns, and evening venues make the festival an experience that extends well beyond the park's perimeter.

The format is that of a neighborhood party extended to the world: you arrive on foot, sit on the grass, listen to a talk, and stay for the concert. All activities are free and open to the public, with no reservation required, making the event particularly suitable for families, students, and those visiting Rome in the summer looking for something different from the typical tourist circuits.

Why it is worth attending

The Festival of Cultures is one of those events that showcases the "non-postcard" side of Rome: the one of neighborhood social networks and associations that work year-round and bring their efforts to the public square for a few days. Anyone looking for a free, multidisciplinary festival with a strong civic focus will find one of the most coherent offerings of the Roman summer here.