Straperetana

An open-air museum in the alleys of Pereto

Straperetana is a widespread contemporary art festival that animates Pereto every summer, a small medieval village of just over six hundred inhabitants perched on the Carseolani Mountains, in the province of L'Aquila on the western borders of Abruzzo. Known as the «gateway to Abruzzo», for a few weeks Pereto becomes an exhibition route that intertwines contemporary art, historic architecture, and mountain landscapes, inviting the public to discover the ancient center through works, sculptures, and installations scattered along the streets, squares, and palaces.

A cultural gamble since 2017

The event was born in 2017 on the initiative of founders Paola Capata and Delfo Durante, with the aim of drawing attention to an Apennine hinterland often on the margins of major cultural circuits. Over the course of its editions, Straperetana has hosted over one hundred and sixty artists and attracted thousands of visitors, establishing itself as one of the most original appointments dedicated to public art in Abruzzo. The first editions were curated by Saverio Verini; the most recent ones have been entrusted to Paola Capata and Annalisa Inzana.

The heart of the festival: Palazzo Maccafani

The exhibition hub is Palazzo Maccafani, a historic residence overlooking the square of the same name, which hosts the main exhibitions. Around this core, the interventions are distributed throughout the maze of medieval alleys and village spaces, in a continuous dialogue between the works and the memory of the place. In past editions, other historic buildings such as Palazzo Iannucci have also been involved, and the village streets themselves have become supports for site-specific installations.

Towards a permanent collection

Starting from the tenth edition, Straperetana has embarked on a significant turning point: alongside temporary exhibitions, the festival aims to permanently root some works in the urban fabric of the village, creating a true open-air contemporary art collection destined to remain over time. A project that strengthens the bond between Pereto, its community, and the artists who work there.

A free and welcoming event

Straperetana has free admission and is usually open on summer weekends, with the possibility of visits by appointment. The festival is sponsored by the Municipality of Pereto and local Abruzzo institutions, and represents an opportunity to combine a walk through the medieval village with the discovery of the latest contemporary art.