Vico in Jazz

A week of jazz in the historic center of Vico Equense

Every summer, as the sun sets over the Gulf of Naples, the historic center of Vico Equense changes its face: squares, courtyards, and cloisters become open-air stages, and music takes over the city. This is the time for Vico in Jazz, a festival that in just a few years has become one of the most anticipated musical events on the Sorrento Peninsula, in the province of Naples, Campania.

The formula is simple and effective: bringing together established artists from the Italian and international jazz scene with young musicians in training, having them perform in the same venues, on the same evenings, before the same audience. The result is a festival that feels anything but formal, where high-quality listening blends with the relaxed atmosphere of summer evenings in Vico.

The venues: from Largo dei Tigli to the cloister of the Santissima Trinità

The heart of the festival is the Cloister of the Santissima Trinità e Paradiso, a monumental space with excellent natural acoustics that hosts evening concerts under its arches. Other events take place in the Atrio Comunale, the courtyard of the Town Hall, and in Largo dei Tigli, an outdoor space where the public can stop by even just while passing through.

Distributing concerts across multiple points in the historic center is no coincidence: those who arrive for the music end up discovering the village, its narrow alleys, terraces overlooking the sea, and, of course, the local gastronomy, from the famous pizza by the meter to the pastry shops along the main street.

Arte di improvvisare: the workshop that fuels the festival

Behind Vico in Jazz lies an educational effort that lasts all year. The Arte di improvvisare workshop, led by masters Giulio Martino and Gianluigi Goglia, is now in its eighteenth edition and has been held in Vico Equense for four consecutive years. The initiative is organized and promoted by the Associazione Musicale Amici della Musica Santa Cecilia, under the artistic direction of Cecilia Manganaro and the presidency of Anna Prisco.

Every day, students from conservatories and enthusiasts from various regions of Italy attend lessons on improvisation techniques; in the evening, they take the stage to put what they have learned into practice, often joined by their teachers in genuine jam sessions. This is the most authentic soul of the event: jazz that is passed on, not just listened to.

A forward-looking program

• Prominent guests: Over the years, important names from the Italian and international jazz scene have performed, from the Philadelphia Jazz Orchestra to soloists like Emanuele Cisi and George Garzone.
• Neapolitan roots: A portion of the program is dedicated to jazz reinterpretations of Neapolitan songs and the repertoire of Renato Carosone and Lelio Luttazzi.
• Young talents: Concerts by workshop students are an integral part of the lineup, not just a side event.
• Free admission: All events are free, with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Vico in Jazz within Vico d'Estate

The festival is part of the Vico d'Estate calendar, the program of events that the Municipality of Vico Equense offers during the summer season, and effectively kicks off the Eventi al Chiostro series. The artistic direction of the evenings at the cloister is entrusted to maestro Pasquale De Rosa, a pianist and composer who curates the selection of ensembles and original projects presented to the public.

Why it's worth the trip

Vico Equense is a natural stop between Castellammare di Stabia and Sorrento: it is easily reached by train via the Circumvesuviana and, in summer, also by sea. Attending a concert in a historic cloister, with the warm evening air and the scent of linden trees, is an experience you won't easily forget. For those visiting the Sorrento Coast in July, Vico in Jazz is the best way to experience the town from the inside, alongside its residents.