San Martino delle Scale Organ Festival

An organ festival in the heart of the Palermo Mountains

The San Martino delle Scale Organ Festival is one of the longest-running and most prestigious organ music events in Sicily. For over thirty years, it has showcased the organ repertoire and the instruments housed in the historic Benedictine Abbey Basilica of San Martino delle Scale, a mountain village in the municipality of Monreale, nestled in the lush woods behind Palermo. Every summer, the basilica transforms into a natural concert hall, where the solemn acoustics of the sacred building enhance the voice of the instrument.

The instrument and the venue

At the heart of the festival is the grand three-manual symphonic organ with mechanical action, built in 2003 by the renowned Mascioni firm of Cuvio. Set within the baroque framework and monumental splendor of the abbey, founded in the Middle Ages by Benedictine monks, the instrument allows for a vast repertoire, ranging from Neapolitan baroque to grand late-romantic symphonies.

Program and guests

Each year, the festival features a series of concert evenings entrusted to nationally and internationally renowned organists, often accompanied by orchestras, choirs, and ensembles. Throughout its editions, performers such as Andrea Macinanti and Alessio Corti have graced the stage, with programs spanning from sacred music to symphonic repertoire, including premieres and celebrations of musical anniversaries.

• Concerts for solo organ and for organ with orchestra, choir, and ensemble
• Repertoire ranging from Neapolitan baroque to symphonic and contemporary music
• Evenings included in the celebrations of the Feast of Saint Benedict and the Monreale Summer program
• Free admission to all concerts

Organization

The festival is organized by the Monastery of San Martino delle Scale and the Municipality of Monreale, in collaboration with the Alessandro Scarlatti Conservatory of Music in Palermo and with the support of the Sicilian Region (Department of Cultural Heritage). The artistic direction is entrusted to Maestro Giovan Battista Vaglica.

A summer highlight for music lovers

For classical music enthusiasts and visitors seeking an authentic experience, the San Martino delle Scale Organ Festival offers a unique opportunity to listen to music in a setting of extraordinary beauty, just a few kilometers from Monreale and its famous Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Sicily.