The Long Night of the Churches

The Long Night of the Churches in Castorano

The Long Night of the Churches is a national initiative that, on an early June evening, transforms hundreds of places of worship across Italy into spaces for meeting, culture, and dialogue. In 2026, the event reaches its eleventh edition and for the first time also involves Castorano, a small municipality in the province of Ascoli Piceno, in the Marche region. An evening in which the village churches open to the public to tell their stories through guided tours, art, and moments of shared reflection.

The two featured churches

The tour begins in the late afternoon with guided tours of two symbolic sites in the area. The Church of San Giovanni Battista, in the hamlet of Pescolla, takes visitors on a journey dedicated to local history, territory, and traditions. The Church of Santa Maria della Visitazione, in the historic center of Castorano, offers an itinerary focused on art, culture, and memory. Two complementary stops that reveal the authentic face of a small village in the Piceno hinterland.

Conference on the depopulation of villages

The second part of the evening takes place in Piazzetta Belvedere, where a conference is held on a topic keenly felt in the small centers of the Apennines: the depopulation of villages. A moment of discussion on how towns like Castorano are facing the challenge of demographic decline, which risks causing social damage to the fabric of communities. The reflection fits into the national theme of the 2026 edition, dedicated to the concept of "home" on the occasion of the eight hundredth anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Organization and collaborations

The Castorano event is promoted by the Associazione Padre Carlo Orazi, in collaboration with the social promotion association 3sicc and with the patronage of the Municipality of Castorano, along with the Diocese of Ascoli Piceno and the parish. Among the conference speakers are the Bishop of Ascoli Piceno, Monsignor Gianpiero Palmieri, and female speakers engaged on the topic of internal territories and communities.

A new event for the Piceno region

With its debut in the national network, Castorano enriches the cultural calendar of the Piceno region with an evening that intertwines faith, heritage, and civil engagement. The Long Night of the Churches thus becomes an opportunity to rediscover the roots of a village in the Marche and to reflect together on the future of small towns.