San Lorenzo Festival

A summer of cinema and culture in San Lorenzo

The San Lorenzo Festival is the major summer event that brings Piazzale del Verano to life in Rome's San Lorenzo district. Spanning over 3,000 square meters of green space, the so-called Giardino Verano becomes an open-air cinema arena and a cultural space open to everyone, from early morning until late at night. Admission is completely free.

Organizers

The event is promoted by the Municipality II of Rome as part of the "E-State Insieme" initiative, in collaboration with the magazine Scomodo, Hollywood Roma, and the association Habicura, which has been working for years on the grassroots regeneration of the Piazzale del Verano gardens. It is a community project that restores a long-abandoned space to the neighborhood.

What to expect

The heart of the festival is the cinema arena, with evening screenings ranging from Italian classics to international auteur films, documentaries, and social-issue cinema. Many evenings feature directors, actors, journalists, and guests who introduce the films and engage with the audience.

Alongside the big screen, the program offers:

• concerts and DJ sets (pop, jazz, flamenco, singer-songwriter, open mic for emerging artists);
• talks and debates on current affairs and international solidarity;
• exhibitions, laboratories, and workshops;
• a study hall, a bicycle repair shop, and social areas with foosball, deckchairs, and hammocks;
• food and drink area and evening parties.

The San Lorenzo District

A historic working-class and university neighborhood near Termini Station and the Sapienza University, San Lorenzo has always been one of the most authentic and rebellious hearts of Rome. Piazzale del Verano, in front of the monumental Verano Cemetery, also preserves the memory of the bombing of July 19, 1943, which is commemorated every year during the festival. The San Lorenzo Festival is an expression of this identity: accessible culture, participation, and neighborhood life.

Not to be confused

This festival at Piazzale del Verano is a separate event from the "San Lorenzo Film Festival – From bombs to the stars," which takes place at the nearby Parco dei Caduti del 19 luglio 1943. Both events share the spirit of the neighborhood and some organizers, but they have their own venues, calendars, and programming.