Visioni d'Autore

Visioni d'Autore: spectacular performances among the ruins of Marruvium

Visioni d'Autore is the summer theatre and cinema festival held in San Benedetto dei Marsi, a municipality in the Marsica area of the province of L'Aquila, in the heart of Abruzzo. The festival enjoys one of the most evocative settings in the region: the Roman Amphitheatre of Marruvium on Via Lupi, a testament to the ancient splendidissima civitas that once stood on the shores of Lake Fucino as the main centre for the Italic people of the Marsi.

A cultural project for the Marsica region

The festival was created with the aim of bringing life and culture back to the stones of ancient Marruvium, enhancing the local archaeological heritage through evenings of theatre and auteur cinema. Promoted by the Municipality of San Benedetto dei Marsi, the event inaugurated the new look of the Roman Amphitheatre in 2025, returning it to the community as an open-air stage. All evenings are free of charge, designed to bring the general public closer to high-quality performances and the rediscovery of the archaeological site.

Great names of Italian entertainment

The hallmark of Visioni d'Autore is the presence of leading figures from Italian cinema and theatre. The first edition in the summer of 2025 featured Luca Ward, one of the most famous voices in Italian dubbing, in an evening dedicated to his most iconic roles. The second edition, scheduled for the summer of 2026, hosts Raoul Bova with the theatrical performance Il Nuotatore di Auschwitz, a story of courage, resistance, and hope set against the tragedy of the Shoah.

An experience blending archaeology and performance

Attending Visioni d'Autore means experiencing live performance in a setting of immense historical value, under the stars of the Marsica summer. The Roman Amphitheatre, dating back to the late 1st century BC, offers a unique frame that unites the memory of ancient Marruvium with the power of contemporary theatrical expression. The festival has established itself as a staple of the Abruzzo summer, attracting audiences from across the Marsica region and neighbouring provinces.

San Benedetto dei Marsi and the Marruvium site

The municipality of San Benedetto dei Marsi lies on the Fucino plain, the ancient lake drained in the 19th century. The town preserves significant remains of ancient Marruvium, mentioned by Latin authors such as Strabo and Pliny: in addition to the amphitheatre, the archaeological area included a theatre, thermal baths, and the city forum. Today, Visioni d'Autore serves as one of the key tools through which the territory tells the story of and revitalises this millennial legacy.