Valentino Summer 100

A summer in the sign of a legend

Valentino Summer 100 is the 2026 summer festival of the Municipality of Castellaneta, a village overlooking the ravines in the province of Taranto, in the heart of Puglia. This year's edition holds special significance: it celebrates the centenary of the passing of Rodolfo Valentino (August 23, 1926), the first great international silent film star, who was born in Castellaneta. A comprehensive cultural program pays homage to the city's most famous figure, bringing his story to the squares, the amphitheater, and along the coast.

Three festivals, one story

The program brings together over 120 events distributed between July and August, organized into three complementary series: events in the historic center of Castellaneta, those in the seaside resort of Castellaneta Marina, and a special section entirely dedicated to the Valentino Centenary. The common thread is the video-tribute L'Ombra del Mito: Rodolfo Valentino, created by choreographer Francesco Posa and performed by dancer Gioacchino Starace of the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, which is screened at the opening of almost all shows. Filmed between the Valentino Museum, the historic center, and the Monastery of Santa Chiara, the short film reinterprets the star through contemporary dance to the notes of Gabriel's Tango by Paolo Buonvino.

The program

The offerings range from visual theater to cirque nouveau, from big names in Apulian music to cinema under the stars. Confirmed events include:

• The Tempest by the Compagnia Accademia Creativa (August 3, Amphitheater), a visionary show that blends theater, circus arts, and aerial dance;
• Sud Sound System (August 4, Amphitheater), a concert-event for their 30th anniversary with a DJ set by Papaleu;
• the Stare Insieme meeting series, curated by Raffaello Fusaro between Villa De Gasperi and Piazza Kennedy, featuring guests such as Ubaldo Pantani, Moni Ovadia, Anita Caprioli, Angelo Mellone, and Nello Trocchia.

These are joined by open-air cinema, theatrical performances, dance exhibitions, workshops, children's entertainment, markets, and musical evenings.

Culture spread between village and sea

Produced by the Municipality of Castellaneta in collaboration with Puglia Culture and the Apulia Film Commission, Valentino Summer 100 transforms the entire summer into a widespread cultural journey. From the ravines of the historic center to the beaches of Castellaneta Marina, the festival unites residents, tourists, and families in a narrative that weaves the memory of a 20th-century legend with the contemporary vitality of Puglia.