Tessil'Arte – National Festival of Mindful Handcrafting
The textile arts and crafts festival in the village of Castelnuovo di Porto
About Tessil'Arte
A festival dedicated to mindful handcrafting
Tessil'Arte is the National Festival of Mindful Handcrafting that brings the village of Castelnuovo di Porto, in the province of Rome, Lazio, to life every mid-June. Promoted by the Associazione Tessuti Sociali in collaboration with the local municipality, the festival celebrates textile arts and manual craftsmanship as a cultural, educational, and social heritage, turning squares, alleys, and historic cellars into a vast open-air creative district.
The village as a collective work of art
The visual heart of the event is the aerial installation overlooking Piazza Vittorio Veneto: for the 2026 edition, a cascade of 250 colorful crocheted hexagons created by workshops and volunteers from all over Italy. Surrounding this monumental feature are artisan stands, live demonstrations, exhibitions, and installations that highlight the value of manual work and the richness of Italian textile traditions.
Workshops, culture, and community
Tessil'Arte is, above all, a participatory festival. For two days, the public can get hands-on with dozens of experiential workshops dedicated to loom weaving, felting, macramé, spinning, eco-printing, natural dyeing, textile art therapy, and lace-making, with activities also designed for children. The program alternates documentary screenings with author meet-and-greets, thematic conferences on contemporary weaving, public readings, and live music.
- Monumental textile installations in the historic center
- Workshops for adults and children on weaving, felting, macramé, spinning, and natural dyeing
- Documentaries and conferences on craftsmanship and textile arts
- Concerts and folk dances in the village squares
- Collective closing parade
Local flavors and heritage
The festival is also an opportunity to discover Castelnuovo di Porto and its surroundings: free guided tours of the historic center curated by FAI, local wine tastings along the 'Tour diVino' route through open cellars, and traditional dishes accompany visitors throughout the event. A blend of craftsmanship, culture, inclusion, and community that makes Tessil'Arte one of the most original offerings in the Lazio region.
Tessil'Arte — edition 2026
The second edition of Tessil'Arte brought Castelnuovo di Porto to life on June 13-14, 2026, with the Associazione Tessuti Sociali, the Municipality, and the patronage of FAI and the Lazio Region. The symbol of the edition was the aerial installation of 250 colorful crocheted hexagons suspended over Piazza Vittorio Veneto, created by workshops and volunteers from all over Italy.
Programme Tessil'Arte 2026
Saturday, June 13, 2026
- 10:00 AM – Opening of stands and workshops, Piazza Vittorio Veneto
- 11:00 AM – Docufilm "Janas – Stories of women, looms, and treasures" with a meeting with director Giulio Filippo Giunti
- 3:00 PM – Docufilm "Twin Islands – from Sardinia to Okinawa on the thread of weaving" with the director
- 5:00 PM – Creative workshops and "Threads of Dream" reading marathon
- 6:00 PM – Inauguration of the "Hexagons" installation and opening remarks
- 9:00 PM – "Voce 'e Mare" concert with Nando Citarella and the La Paranza company
Sunday, June 14, 2026
- 10:00 AM – Opening of stands and workshops
- 1:00 PM – Open cellars and Tour diVino in the historic center
- 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM – Conferences on contemporary weaving and braiding
- 6:00 PM – Collective parade in Piazza Vittorio Veneto
Throughout the festival: workshops on felting, eco-printing, macramé, lace-making, textile art therapy, loom weaving, spinning, and children's activities, plus free guided tours of the historic center curated by FAI, local wine tastings, and traditional dishes.
Highlights Tessil'Arte 2026
- Aerial installation of 250 crocheted hexagons over Piazza Vittorio Veneto
- "Voce 'e Mare" concert with Nando Citarella and the La Paranza company
- Documentary screenings with meetings with director Giulio Filippo Giunti
- Collective closing parade
- FAI guided tours, Tour diVino, and food and wine tastings
Prices Tessil'Arte 2026
Practical information — Tessil'Arte
How to get there
Castelnuovo di Porto is located about 30 km north of Rome. By car, it can be reached via the A1 motorway (Rome North exit) or the Via Flaminia. By train, the nearest station is served by the FL3 regional line; bus connections from the capital are also available.
Admission and bookings
The event is spread throughout the historic center and admission is free. Some workshops may have limited capacity: it is recommended to check schedules and booking requirements with the organizers.
Information
Associazione Tessuti Sociali – www.tessutisociali.it
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Where does it take place — Tessil'Arte
Piazza Vittorio Veneto e Centro Storico