Veroli Philosophy Festival

Thought in the squares in the heart of Ciociaria

The Veroli Philosophy Festival is one of the most original cultural events of the summer in southern Lazio. For two weeks in the first half of July, the medieval village of Veroli, in the province of Frosinone, takes philosophical reflection out of the classrooms and into the squares: masterclasses, public dialogues, book presentations, and performances that weave together critical thinking, current affairs, politics, and art, with free evening events.

A young festival, already a benchmark

Promoted by the Municipality of Veroli and reaching its seventh edition in 2026, the festival is curated by artistic director Fabrizio Vona with the support of the municipal administration. In just a few years, the festival has established itself as one of the main cultural events in the Ciociaria region, capable of bringing national figures of thought, journalism, and entertainment to a provincial town: from Enrico Mentana to Maurizio Ferraris, from Michela Marzano to Alessandro Preziosi.

The 2026 edition: artificial intelligence

The seventh edition, scheduled from July 1st to 15th, 2026, was entirely dedicated to artificial intelligence and the transformations it imposes on our way of knowing, communicating, working, and imagining the future. Opening the cycle of evening lectures was the philosopher of science Telmo Pievani, with a reflection on artificial intelligence, evolution, and the uniquely human capacity to ask questions. The stage then featured, among others, Michela Marzano, Alan Friedman, Maurizio Ferraris, Roberto Finelli, Claudio Cerasa, Francesco Miano, Monica Maggioni, and Dario Nardella, culminating in an author's evening with Elio Germano and Teho Teardo dedicated to the poetic and civil universe of Pier Paolo Pasolini.

The Philosophical Aperitif and the laboratory city

An absolute novelty of 2026 was the debut of the Philosophical Aperitif, a format designed to bring philosophical debate into the city's everyday spaces before the evening meetings: terraces, squares, and meeting points in the historic center hosted moments of informal dialogue between speakers, citizens, and visitors, transforming Veroli into a widespread laboratory of ideas and conversations.

The festival venues

The heart of the event is Piazza Santa Maria Salome, at the foot of the basilica that houses the Holy Stairs, flanked by the evocative Cloister of Sant'Agostino, home to the more intimate meetings. The program also crosses municipal boundaries: as part of the Hernica Saxa cultural collaboration project, one of the festival's events was held in Anagni, in Piazza Innocenzo III.

Veroli and the surrounding area

An ancient Hernican city perched on the slopes of the Ernici Mountains, Veroli is one of the most evocative villages in Lazio: medieval alleys, Romanesque churches, and, just a few kilometers away, the famous Casamari Abbey, a masterpiece of Cistercian Gothic architecture. The festival thus becomes an invitation to discover the most authentic Ciociaria, amidst culture, landscape, and good food.