Sannita Teatro Festival

The oldest theatre comes back to life

The Sannita Teatro Festival is the major summer event that enlivens the Sannitic Theatre in Pietrabbondante, a village in upper Molise in the province of Isernia. The festival stages theatrical performances and concerts within the Samnite archaeological area, in the locality of Calcatello, where a pre-Roman theatre with its ancient stone seats looks out onto a natural terrace opening onto the vast Molise landscape, at about a thousand metres altitude.

A history of over forty years

Founded in the seventies, the festival has surpassed its fortieth edition, establishing itself as one of the longest-running and most distinctive cultural events in the region. The artistic direction selects a programme that alternates classics — from Plautus to Eduardo De Filippo — with contemporary theatre and experimental productions, often featuring nationally renowned actors and companies.

Theatre at a thousand metres

The experience of the Sannita Teatro Festival is inseparable from its location: attending a performance seated on the tiers of the Samnite theatre, under the starry sky of upper Molise, is what makes the festival unique. Supported by the Molise Region and cultural partners in the area, the event combines archaeological heritage and performing arts, enhancing one of the most important sites of Samnite civilization.