Umani - Inclusion and Diversity Festival
Meetings, theatre, and music for inclusion at the Goleto Abbey
About Umani
A festival that puts people at the center
Umani - Inclusion and Diversity Festival is the event that Alta Irpinia dedicates to the social and third-sector world. It takes place entirely at the San Guglielmo al Goleto Abbey, in the territory of Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi, in the province of Avellino, in the heart of inland Campania. The underlying idea is both simple and ambitious: to use culture as a community tool, bringing themes of fragility, disability, hospitality, and participation into a place of great historical and spiritual value.
The festival is promoted by the City of Alta Irpinia together with the Municipality of Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi, the Avellino Health Authority (ASL), and the Alta Irpinia Social Services Consortium, with the involvement of CSV Irpinia Sannio ETS, public bodies, cooperatives, parishes, schools, and a very wide network of local associations. It is not a top-down program, but the result of a collective effort that grows every year.
A program alternating reflection and entertainment
The format alternates between moments of in-depth discussion and celebration. Afternoons are filled with conferences, workshops, video screenings, and book and project presentations; evenings feature theatre, dance, live music, poetic readings, and personal testimonies. Meetings and performances take place inside the abbey complex, while the stands of associations and third-sector organizations are located outside, sharing their activities with the public.
- Conferences and thematic roundtables on disability, mental health, hospitality, and personal services
- Workshops open to families, schools, and young people
- Photography exhibitions and video screenings
- Evening concerts, theatrical performances, and dance shows
- Projects carried out with the local prison and regional reception centers
The Goleto Abbey, a setting worth the trip
The Goleto Abbey was founded in 1133 by Saint William of Vercelli, the same founder of the Montevergine sanctuary. Its monumental ruins, the Febronian tower, the old church, and the restored complex make up one of the most evocative landscapes in Irpinia, at an altitude of about 600 meters, in a green valley a few kilometers from the town of Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi. Attending a concert or a theatre performance at sunset, with this backdrop, is in itself one of the reasons to come up here.
Why Alta Irpinia
Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi is one of the symbolic centers of the inland areas of Campania: hit hard by the 1980 earthquake, it rebuilt its social fabric through a dense network of cooperatives and personal services. Umani was born exactly from this, from the idea that inland areas are not just a problem of depopulation, but also a laboratory for community welfare. For this reason, the festival gives a voice to those who usually do not have one: people with disabilities, inmates, asylum seekers, elderly guardians of stories and knowledge, and children to whom we try to teach empathy and respect for differences.
Who is it for?
The festival is designed for a very wide audience. Families will find evening shows suitable for children; social and health workers will find opportunities for training and discussion; and curious visitors will find a unique evening in a place that is worth visiting even during the day. It is also a great opportunity to discover Alta Irpinia in summer, among villages, Taurasi wine cellars, and high-hill landscapes.
Umani — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of Umani opens on Friday, July 24, and closes on Saturday, August 1, once again at the San Guglielmo al Goleto Abbey, in the Municipality of Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi. This is the second edition of the festival dedicated to the third sector, which has grown in both duration and the number of partners involved compared to its debut.
The common thread remains the same: fostering dialogue between health institutions, local authorities, social cooperatives, and volunteer associations, giving space to the most vulnerable individuals in the Alta Irpinia area. Alongside in-depth moments—workshops, conferences, and project and book presentations—the program offers a show open to all every evening, featuring theatre, dance, and concerts. Conferences and performances take place inside the abbey complex, while associations set up their stands outside.
Announced musical guests include the Nuova Compagnia di Canto Popolare, a historic ensemble of Campanian folk music, and the Sonora Sax. The theatrical program ranges from civil drama to productions designed for families.
Programme Umani 2026
Friday, July 24 - Opening
- Afternoon: Presentation of the initiative with the promoting bodies and partners
- 5:30 PM: Establishment of the CSV Irpinia Sannio Disability Roundtable for the Irpinia-Sannio inland areas
- Inauguration of the photo exhibition «Aquerò - Journey to Lourdes» by Annibale Sepe, created with Unitalsi
- Refugee Festival, with the SAI center and Irpinia 2000 ETS
- Evening: Concert by Effetti Collaterali, a band composed of doctors
Tuesday, July 28
- Afternoon: Workshops, conference, and video screenings with the local prison and area associations, including PianetaDown
- After sunset: Theatrical performance «Precipitevolissimevolmente» by Puck Teatré, on the theme of suicide
Wednesday, July 29
- Presentation of the FAMI project «A.R.I.A.»
- 9:00 PM: Concert by the Nuova Compagnia di Canto Popolare
Thursday, July 30
- 6:30 PM: Presentation of the book «Una famiglia imperfetta» by Luca Trapanese
- Dance and theatre performance «Oltre il gioco»
Friday, July 31
- Afternoon: Conference and training on therapeutic gardens, with the Order of Architects
- Evening: Theatrical performance «Piccolo principe: un ponte tra mondi»
Saturday, August 1 - Closing
- Afternoon: Closing ceremony of the festival
- 9:00 PM: Theatrical performance «Peter Pan»
The program may be subject to changes: it is advisable to check the times on the promoters' official channels before traveling.
Highlights Umani 2026
- Concert by the Nuova Compagnia di Canto Popolare on July 29 at 9:00 PM, one of the historic names in Campanian folk music
- The photo exhibition «Aquerò - Journey to Lourdes» by Annibale Sepe, inaugurated on the opening day
- «Precipitevolissimevolmente» by Puck Teatré, civil theatre on the theme of suicide
- Presentation of the book «Una famiglia imperfetta» by Luca Trapanese
- Establishment of the Disability Roundtable for the Irpinia-Sannio inland areas
- Family shows «Piccolo principe: un ponte tra mondi» and «Peter Pan»
- The monumental setting of the Goleto Abbey, with outdoor association stands
Prices Umani 2026
Practical information — Umani
Location
Abbazia di San Guglielmo al Goleto, Contrada San Guglielmo, 83054 Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi (AV). The complex is located a few kilometers from the town center, in the open countryside.
How to get there
- By car: A16 Naples-Canosa motorway, exit at Lioni-Grottaminarda or Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi, then follow signs for the Goleto Abbey. This is the most practical way: parking is available near the complex.
- By train: The nearest useful stations are Avellino or Grottaminarda-Ariano Irpino, from which you can continue by bus or rental car.
- By plane: Naples Capodichino Airport, about two hours away by road.
Tips
- Evening events usually start around 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM: bring a light sweater, as temperatures drop at night at this altitude.
- The abbey site has some uneven ground: comfortable shoes are recommended.
- It is worth arriving early to visit the abbey in daylight.
Where to eat and stay
Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi and neighboring towns (Lioni, Nusco, Rocca San Felice, Torella dei Lombardi) offer farmhouses, B&Bs, and restaurants where you can taste the dishes of Alta Irpinia and the local DOCG wines, from Taurasi to Fiano di Avellino.
Information
For the updated program and any reservations, it is best to refer to the official channels of the Municipality of Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi, the City of Alta Irpinia, and the CSV Irpinia Sannio ETS.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Umani
Abbazia di San Guglielmo al Goleto
Contrada San Guglielmo, 83054 Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi