Settimana Marsicana
Seven days of culture, music, traditions, and gastronomy in the heart of Avezzano
About Settimana Marsicana
The historic festival of the Marsica region
The Marsica Week is the iconic summer event of Avezzano, a city in the province of L'Aquila, and the entire Marsica district. Its first edition dates back to 1951, when it was created to promote tourism and celebrate the identity of a territory shaped by history, from the 1915 earthquake to the drainage of the Fucino lake. Since then, the event has established itself as one of the most popular summer gatherings in Abruzzo, attracting thousands of people from across the region every year.
A widespread program throughout the city
For eight days, between late July and early August, the center of Avezzano becomes a large open-air stage. The heart of the event is Piazza Risorgimento, which hosts major evening concerts, while the streets and squares of the center (via Cataldi, the former Montessori complex, Piazza Torlonia and Parco Torlonia, and the Nicola Irti Conference Hall) host dozens of parallel initiatives. The program blends diverse genres and audiences:
- Live music: concerts by national artists and tribute bands that bring the evenings in the square to life;
- Art and culture: collective painting exhibitions, photography displays, and conferences on history, the environment, and local traditions;
- Markets featuring crafts, vintage items, and creativity along via Marconi;
- Street food: during the final days, via Corradini and via Pagani transform into the largest open-air restaurant in the Marsica region, with food trucks and local specialties;
- Street performances: traveling artists, stilt walkers, bubble performers, clowns, puppets, and marionettes for the little ones;
- Sports and outdoor activities: days dedicated to children and teenagers, bicycle rides, yoga in Parco Torlonia, and guided tours of the natural treasures of the Marsica region.
An event of identity
Organized by the Pro Loco Avezzano APS in collaboration with the Municipality of Avezzano, the Marsica Week is not just a series of events, but a moment of strong collective identity for the Marsica region. Every year, the cultural sections address themes related to the Abruzzo territory, from the history of the Fucino to the protection of the mountain environment, offering visitors a key to understanding the soul of this part of inland Abruzzo.
Avezzano and the Marsica region
Located in a basin surrounded by mountains, just a few kilometers from the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park, Avezzano is the natural capital of the Marsica region. Participating in the Marsica Week means discovering a modern city that remains deeply connected to its roots, where the summer festival becomes an opportunity to enjoy the squares, savor local cuisine, and learn about the folk traditions of an authentic and hospitable territory.
Settimana Marsicana — edition 2026
The 29th edition of the Marsicana Week brings the center of Avezzano to life from Sunday, July 26 to Sunday, August 2, 2026. The heart of the event is Piazza Risorgimento, complemented by the former Montessori complex (exhibitions and funfair), as well as Via Cataldi, Via Marconi, Via Corradini, and Via Pagani (markets and street food), the Sala Irti for meetings, and Parco Torlonia.
The program is presented by the Pro Loco Avezzano APS, which organizes the event together with the Municipality of Avezzano. For information and bookings: Pro Loco office at Via Corradini 75, tel. 335 8088683.
During the event, traffic and parking changes are expected in the city center: closure of Via Cataldi from July 26 to August 2, closure of Via Marconi, Via Fontana, Via Trieste, and Via Trento from July 31 to August 3, and the pedestrian area traffic closure will be brought forward to 5:00 PM for the entire duration of the event.
Programme Settimana Marsicana 2026
Sunday, July 26
- 6:00 PM — Opening ceremony in Piazza Risorgimento, with the San Pelino Alpini Association, the Leone Rosso Celanum Association, the Le Collanelle folk polyphonic choir, and the Castelnuovo Band Association.
- 6:00 PM — «City of Avezzano - Dressed in Italy: when the Tricolor becomes emotion» (Rosa Noto) — Piazza Risorgimento.
- 6:00 PM — Opening of the Funfair — inner courtyard of the former Montessori complex, until August 2.
- Creation of an artistic mosaic by the Infioratori Group of Magliano de' Marsi — Via Cataldi, from July 26 to August 2.
- 9:30 PM — Ricchi e Poveri in concert — Piazza Risorgimento.
Monday, July 27
- 10:30 AM — Opening of the cultural, sports, and volunteer association stands — Piazza Risorgimento.
- 5:30 PM — Inauguration of exhibitions at the former Montessori complex, open until August 2: «I Painted Peace» (Marsarte Association), photo exhibition «Fragments of Territory» (Amici dell'Immagine Association), photo exhibition «Nocturnal Avezzano» (Marsicano Photographic Circle).
- 5:45 PM — «My First Driver's License», 2nd edition, road safety education project for children by the Local Police — Piazza Risorgimento.
- 6:00 PM — Yoga and meditation sessions (Yoga Sentieri di Vita Association) — Parco Torlonia, access from Via Roma, until August 2.
- 7:00 PM — Golden Girls Majorettes, choreographic show — Piazza Risorgimento.
- 9:00 PM — «Rock in the Center», concert with a massive collective band — Piazza Risorgimento.
Tuesday, July 28
- Vintage car re-enactment by Motori dei Marsi — Piazza Risorgimento.
- Meeting «Winged Creatures of the Fucino - Stories of wings, migrations, and freedom» — Sala Irti.
- «George - The Magical World of Puppets».
- Glass recycling workshop «Reflections of light: glass reborn» (AmbeCo-Tekneko) — Piazza Risorgimento.
- Acrodance ASD Gymart, artistic gymnastics performance — Piazza Risorgimento.
- «Jovanotte - #TheHumanBodyTour», Jovanotti cover band — Piazza Risorgimento.
- 9:30 PM and 10:30 PM — «Bubble Karakascio - Soap Bubbles» — corner of Via Corradini / Via Marconi.
Wednesday, July 29
- Traveling wooden games - Ludobus Legnogiocando — Piazza Risorgimento.
- Meeting «Rediscovery, recovery: new frontiers of high-altitude agriculture in the Marsica region» — Sala Irti.
- 6:00 PM — «Much more than a dog»: dog training, sports, rescue, and assistance activities, with the Nosework Team and Dogs&Horses — Piazza Risorgimento.
- U.P.S.F.C. «From the shelter to the catwalk» — Piazza Risorgimento.
- «Anthology Michael Jackson - The Italian Tribute» — Piazza Risorgimento.
- 9:30 PM and 10:30 PM — Shansky Clown — corner of Via Corradini / Via Marconi.
Thursday, July 30
- 8:00 AM — «Discovering hidden treasures», guided tour of the Beatrice Cenci Caves (bookings: Maria, 335 8088683).
- 5:30 PM — Meeting «The Queen of Fucino: the potato», with Benedetto Caiola and chef Gianni Orlandi — Sala Irti.
- 6:00 PM — «Sonic - The Magical World of Puppets» — Piazza Risorgimento.
- 9:00 PM — «Queen on Fire - The Real Queen Experience» — Piazza Risorgimento.
- 9:30 PM and 10:30 PM — Magician Vincent Deuxieme — corner of Via Corradini / Via Marconi.
Friday, July 31
- 10:00 AM — Craft, vintage, and creativity market — Via Marconi.
- 10:00 AM — «American Style» car exhibition (Libertini Event Special Car) — Piazza Risorgimento, until Sunday, August 2.
- 10:00 AM — A.M.A. Marsicano Aeromodelling exhibition — Piazza Risorgimento, until Sunday, August 2.
- 5:00 PM — Street food, gastronomic events — Via Corradini / Via Pagani.
- 5:00 PM — Traveling wooden games - Ludobus Legnogiocando — Piazza Risorgimento, until 8:00 PM.
- 5:30 PM — Meeting «Living soil, healthy food: the microbial green revolution», with researchers from the MeSVA Department of Univaq — Sala Irti.
- 6:00 PM — Glass recycling workshop «Reflections of light: glass reborn» (AmbeCo-Tekneko) — Piazza Risorgimento.
- 9:00 PM — Pro Loco Sports Award 2026 for athletes who excelled in 2025 — Piazza Risorgimento.
- 9:30 PM — «New Orleans Style» with the Alabama Dixie Band, traveling music.
- 9:30 PM — «Sempre e per sempre», De Gregori cover band, with a second set at 11:00 PM — Piazza Risorgimento.
- 9:30 PM — Flora, stilt walker — Piazza Risorgimento.
- 9:30 PM and 10:30 PM — «Fairy Tale World - Journey into the indigenous lands of the world» — corner of Via Corradini / Via Marconi.
- 10:00 PM — Magico Alivernini, «When magic meets mental illness», cabaret — Piazza Risorgimento.
Saturday, August 1
- 8:00 AM — «Discovering hidden treasures», guided tour of the Pietrasecca Caves (bookings: Maria, 335 8088683).
- 10:00 AM — Craft, vintage, and creativity market — Via Marconi.
- 5:00 PM — Street food, gastronomic events — Via Corradini / Via Pagani.
- 5:30 PM — Meeting «Dialect theater: the culture of roots», with representatives of Marsican theaters — Sala Irti.
- 6:00 PM — «K-Pop - The Magical World of Puppets» — Piazza Risorgimento.
- 9:30 PM — Negramaro tribute band — Piazza Risorgimento.
- 9:30 PM and 10:30 PM — «The Path of Fire» (corner of Via Corradini / Via Marconi) and Sirena Lalalu (Piazza Risorgimento).
Sunday, August 2
- 9:00 AM — Sports day dedicated to children and teenagers, with a bicycle ride at 5:00 PM (A.S.D. Usa Avezzano, Amici di Dennis, Marsica Bike Academy, MagicBike) — internal circuit of Piazza Torlonia.
- 10:00 AM — Craft, vintage, and creativity market — Via Marconi.
- 5:00 PM — Street food, gastronomic events — Via Corradini / Via Pagani.
- Award ceremony and certificate presentation for the art collective — Sala Irti.
- Photo exhibition awards — Sala Irti.
- Meeting «Avezzano Award» with Prof. Maurizio Lucci and Architect Chiara Salvi — Sala Irti.
- «Frozen - The Magical World of Puppets» — Piazza Risorgimento.
- Authenticity and Roots Award 2026, for personalities who have excelled in various cultural fields — Piazza Risorgimento.
- Traditional games «Slingshot and crossbow» — corner of Via Corradini / Via Marconi.
- Traveling Circus stilt walkers — Piazza Risorgimento.
- «Old House», West Coast cover band, with a second set at 11:00 PM — Piazza Risorgimento.
- Carmine Faraco, comedian, singer, and actor — Piazza Risorgimento.
Program presented by the Pro Loco Avezzano APS. For detailed schedules for July 28, 29, and August 2, and for any updates, please check the official channels of the Pro Loco Avezzano and the Municipality of Avezzano.
Highlights Settimana Marsicana 2026
Prices Settimana Marsicana 2026
Practical information — Settimana Marsicana
How to get there
Avezzano is easily accessible by car via the A25 Rome-Pescara motorway (Avezzano exit). By train, the Avezzano station is served by the Rome-Pescara-Sulmona line.
Where it takes place
Events are concentrated in the city center: Piazza Risorgimento, via Cataldi, the former Montessori complex, Piazza Torlonia and Parco Torlonia, and the Nicola Irti Conference Hall. Markets enliven via Marconi, while street food is found on via Corradini and via Pagani.
Traffic and parking
During the event, changes to traffic and parking in the center are expected, with the pedestrian zone closing to traffic as early as 5:00 PM. It is advisable to check the ordinances of the Municipality of Avezzano before traveling.
Admission and information
Most events are free to attend. For information and reservations, you can contact the Pro Loco Avezzano APS office at via Corradini 75, tel. 335 8088683.
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Where does it take place — Settimana Marsicana
Piazza Risorgimento e centro storico
Piazza Risorgimento, 67051 Avezzano