The Armonie del Mediterraneo – Viaggi, Miti e Ritorni Festival presented at Palazzo Carafa

 

The programme for the Armonie del Mediterraneo – Viaggi, Miti e Ritorni Festival was officially unveiled today in the Council Chamber of Palazzo Carafa, marking the launch of a cultural programme that will bring the city of Lecce to life from 28 April to 7 June with a series of events dedicated to music, theatre and dialogue between cultures.

The Festival unfolds as a journey through stories, sounds and memories, presenting the Mediterranean in its most authentic dimension: a place of departures and returns, a living space shaped by diverse identities and interconnected civilisations. Through contemporary artistic languages, tradition and innovation come together, transforming a shared cultural heritage into a collective experience that speaks directly to the present.

The initiative is conceived and promoted by the Euro-Mediterranean Cultural Heritage Agency, in collaboration with the Municipality of Lecce, with the support of the Italian Ministry of Tourism through the National Tourism Fund (FUNT) – 2025 Current Expenditure Programme (Project Code CUP F89I25002020001).

The Festival is delivered in partnership with the "Tito Schipa" Conservatoiry of Music - Lecce, Fondazione Treccani Cultura ETS, Aletheia Teatro, BandAdriatica, Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino, and Quarta Agency, directed by Rosanna Quarta.

Following its first edition, which explored the themes of Sounds, Arts and Cultures in Dialogue, this year's Festival centres on Journeys, Myths and Returns, evoking the visible and invisible routes that have, for centuries, made the Mediterranean a crossroads of encounters, exchanges and shared narratives.

From 28 April to 7 June, the Festival's three strands—Armonie in Scena, Armonie in Dialogo, and Armonie in Musica—come together in a single cultural itinerary where theatre, literature, music and reflection engage in a continuous dialogue.

The programme opens on 28 April at Teatro Paisiello with MITIKA – Teatro e Mito nella Contemporaneità, inaugurated by Dedalo e Icaro – Oltre il volo. The theatrical programme continues on 17 May with Agamennone and on 21 May with Circe: le origini, bringing the enduring power of classical myth into dialogue with contemporary audiences.

From 8 to 10 May, the spotlight turns to discussion and reflection with the Festival del Mediterraneo, organised by Fondazione Treccani Cultura ETS, exploring language, identity and the contemporary challenges of the Mare Nostrum.

Music forms the Festival's other principal thread, with four performances at Teatro Apollo: BandAdriatica presents Nostos – Concerto del Ventennale on 9 May; Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino performs CGS 50 · Il Mito on 16 May; Festival Fisarmoniche One Night – Suoni dal Mediterraneo, curated by Quarta Agency, takes place on 24 May; while the Festival concludes on 7 June with Rotte del Mediterraneo, performed by the "Tito Schipa" Conservatoire of Music of Lecce.

Reflecting on today's international context, marked by profound geopolitical tensions, the Mayor of Lecce, Senator Adriana Poli Bortone, stressed the need to "reverse the perspective of conflict" through the universal language of art and music, transforming what is too often perceived as a sea of divisions into a space of shared harmony.

The Festival also contributes to the seasonal diversification of Lecce's cultural offer, encouraging both residents and visitors to experience the city's cultural life beyond the traditional peak tourist season through events hosted in some of its most significant venues, including Teatro Apollo, Teatro Paisiello and the Complesso degli Agostiniani.

With Armonie del Mediterraneo, Lecce reaffirms its historic vocation as a bridge between the shores of the Mediterranean, demonstrating how culture can foster dialogue, mutual understanding and shared growth.

Official Festival Information

For the full programme, event updates and further information on Armonie del Mediterraneo – Viaggi, Miti e Ritorni, please visit the Festival's official communication channels:

Facebook – Municipality of Lecce
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Instagram – Municipality of Lecce
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