Vulci Festival
Contemporary arts blending archaeology and memory at the Castello dell'Abbadia in Vulci
About Vulci Festival
A festival among Etruscan stones
The Vulci Festival is a contemporary arts event held between the Castello dell'Abbadia and the National Archaeological Museum of Vulci, located in the municipality of Canino, in the province of Viterbo, Lazio. For two weekends in July, the extraordinary spaces of one of Italy's most important Etruscan sites become a stage for theatre, dance, video mapping, and live music, in a journey that weaves the site's thousand-year history with modern performance languages.
A dialogue between memory and modernity
The program is born from the idea of making the stones speak: the shows are largely site-specific, meaning they are tailor-made for the castle and museum environments, guiding the audience through artifacts, courtyards, and walkways. Alongside the itinerant and interactive performances, the festival explores pressing contemporary themes, such as gender-based violence, disability, and the relationship between the local community and its historical and cultural heritage.
Eight shows for all ages
The lineup alternates productions dedicated to children and families with works aimed at adult audiences. Highlights include Guerrieri di polvere, a narrated tour-performance through the castle’s artifacts and history; Orlando al Castello, freely inspired by Ludovico Ariosto's Orlando Furioso as reinterpreted by Italo Calvino; and Puss in Boots, children's theatre based on the famous Perrault fairy tale. There are also dance-theatre performances like Sorellastre and Come mi vesto, the narrative with live music and video mapping Terremoto dentro, the site-specific treasure hunt Cercami che non so dove mi trovo, and the closing dance and video mapping show In mezzo scorre il Fiora, which tells the story of the territory based on scientific research.
Who promotes the festival
The Vulci Festival is promoted by the Regional Directorate of National Museums of Lazio of the Ministry of Culture and produced by the Cultural Association Fuori Contesto APS, with the patronage of the Municipalities of Canino and Montalto di Castro, in collaboration with Hubstract - Made For Art, the Vulci Foundation, and the Pro Loco Caninese. The project is supported by the Lazio Region as part of the public call for the enhancement of cultural heritage through live performance.
Why it's worth visiting
Attending a show at the Vulci Festival means experiencing a unique place in a suspended moment: at sunset, within the walls of the castle on the Fiora river and among the treasures of the Etruscan museum, contemporary performance gives voice to an ancient history. It is an opportunity to discover one of the most fascinating corners of the Viterbo Tuscia in an unusual and free way.
Vulci Festival — edition 2026
The Vulci Festival 2026 inaugurated the event with two weekends of free performances, July 4-5 and 11-12, within the spaces of the Castello dell'Abbadia and the National Archaeological Museum of Vulci, in the municipality of Canino (VT). The program offered eight events including theatre, dance, video mapping, and live music, with two new original site-specific productions created specifically for the site: Guerrieri di polvere and In mezzo scorre il Fiora. The festival, promoted by the Regional Directorate of National Museums of Lazio and produced by Fuori Contesto APS, also addressed current issues such as gender-based violence and disability, enhancing the bond between the community and the archaeological heritage of the Tuscia region.
Programme Vulci Festival 2026
Saturday, July 4, 2026
- 17:30 and 18:30 - Guerrieri di polvere: narrated tour-performance through the artifacts and memory of the Castle, with Marta Rivaroli (Hubstract - Made For Art). New site-specific production, for all ages.
- 19:15 - Orlando al Castello: itinerant family show with Jessica Bertagni and Danilo Turnaturi (Fuori Contesto), freely based on Ludovico Ariosto's Orlando Furioso as reinterpreted by Italo Calvino.
Sunday, July 5, 2026
- 18:00 - Puss in Boots: children's theatre with Jessica Bertagni and Danilo Turnaturi (Fuori Contesto), based on the fairy tale by Charles Perrault.
- 19:15 - Come mi vesto: performance with Chiara De Bonis and Tiziana Scrocca, directed by Emilia Martinelli (Fuori Contesto production), a ritual of shedding prejudices.
Saturday, July 11, 2026
- 19:30 - Sorellastre: dance-theatre show with seven performers, directed by Emilia Martinelli (Ass. Saltimbanco), freely inspired by the fairy tales of Giambattista Basile.
- 21:00 - Terremoto dentro: narration, live music, and video mapping with Tiziana Scrocca and Fabio Amazzini, directed by Emilia Martinelli.
Sunday, July 12, 2026
- 19:30 - Cercami che non so dove mi trovo: site-specific treasure hunt with Carlotta Solidea Aronica and Michele Breda, for families and adults.
- 21:00 - In mezzo scorre il Fiora: closing show of dance, live music, and video mapping with Alessandra Serraglio and Daniela Cono, directed by Emilia Martinelli. New site-specific production.
Highlights Vulci Festival 2026
- Eight free shows over two weekends in July
- Two new original site-specific productions: Guerrieri di polvere and In mezzo scorre il Fiora
- Theatre, dance, video mapping, and live music in the spaces of the Castello dell'Abbadia and the Vulci Museum
- Program for all ages, with events dedicated to children and families
- Current themes: gender-based violence, disability, and connection to heritage
Prices Vulci Festival 2026
Practical information — Vulci Festival
How to get there
The Castello dell'Abbadia and the National Archaeological Museum of Vulci are located in the municipality of Canino (VT), a short distance from the border with Montalto di Castro. By car, it can be reached from the Via Aurelia (SS1) taking the exit towards Vulci-Canino; the nearest train station is Montalto di Castro on the Tyrrhenian line.
Tickets
All performances are free of charge. Given the limited capacity of the historical spaces and the itinerant nature of many events, booking is highly recommended.
Contacts and bookings
For bookings and information, please email [email protected] or call +39 376 2137662.
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Where does it take place — Vulci Festival
Castello dell'Abbadia e Museo archeologico nazionale di Vulci