The Romantic Night in the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy

A night of poetry and romance in the most beautiful village

The Romantic Night is the major national festival promoted by the association 'The Most Beautiful Villages of Italy', which every year, around the summer solstice, simultaneously involves almost two hundred villages across the peninsula. For one evening, candles, torches, and soft lights illuminate squares and alleys, and love becomes the common thread of concerts, walks, special openings, and themed menus. In Grottammare, a pearl of the Adriatic in the Province of Ascoli Piceno, the event takes place in the heart of Grottammare Alta, the charming Old Hamlet (Vecchio Incasato), with the scenic Piazza Peretti as its epicentre.

Where poetry and village meet

In Grottammare, the Romantic Night has a unique soul: it intertwines with the International Poetry Festival 'La punta della lingua', one of the longest-running poetry events in the Marche region, which brings verses, readings, and performances within the walls of the medieval village. Walking in the evening along the alleys of the Old Hamlet, amidst arches, staircases, and small squares overlooking the sea, while the words of poets resonate, is an experience that uniquely blends heritage, landscape, and culture.

The upper village of Grottammare, surrounded by pine woods, citrus groves, and palm trees, holds a deep connection with poetry: the Marche poet Francesco Scarabicchi spent his early years here, and the renowned Beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti also dedicated verses to these places.

An event for everyone

The evening is designed for couples, families, and curious travellers: admission is free, and the atmosphere invites you to slow down, listen, and be surprised by the beauty of the illuminated village. The Romantic Night symbolically opens Grottammare's long summer of culture, which from June to September enlivens the historic centre, squares, and promenade with dozens of events.

Grottammare, pearl of the Adriatic

Overlooking the Riviera delle Palme, in the southern Marche region, Grottammare combines the seaside liveliness of its lower part with the timeless charm of its ancient village, one of the most beloved on the coast. Included among 'The Most Beautiful Villages of Italy', it is the ideal setting for a night dedicated to love and beauty.