Ligurian towns are blessed with picturesque landscapes and a mild climate all year round which offer the perfect backdrop for open-air cultural events including theatrical plays,  operas, concerts and film sessions.

Every year in August the medieval town of Apricale in Liguria welcomes famous acting companies from around the country that come to perform live theatrical plays engaging the entire town and using the cobblestone paved alleys of the old village as their setting. This type of live interactive theater aims at entertaining and educating the audience by having them actively participate in the plays. During these itinerant shows the spectators walk through the streets of the town with the actors who lead them to specific sites where they can attend the performance and interact with the characters.



   While live theater is an up and coming form of art, opera was born in Italy in the 17th century but, although it still plays a dominant role in its cultural scene, Italian people often choose to ignore this art form because they consider it outdated, dreary and often unaffordable. Indoor opera events held at local theaters can indeed be expensive but open-air operas are frequently organized by the regional council to promote cultural heritage and they are usually affordable because they wish to cater to people of all generations and backgrounds.  Attending an open-air opera performance in Italy is a truly extraordinary experience because these events are held at beautiful historical locations such as Roman arenas or ancient fortresses.
In the sixteenth century Liguria’s cities used to be Maritime Republics fighting for the control of the Mediterranean Sea and back in these old times many cities were fortified to be protected against invaders and pirate attacks.  In the present day these old fortresses and bastions have become public museums and they are often also used as stages for operas or outdoor cinemas.  Cultural events are usually taking place at the top of the fortresses to allow magnificent views of the coast but sometimes are also held in the dungeons to create a special mysterious atmosphere.



   Also during the 18th century the region of Liguria was blessed with a thriving economy and there are many villas still remaining from this period. Some of these majestic villas now belong to the government and are open to visitors, while others belong to the successors of these dynasties and are only open for special events such as classical music performances or jazz concerts. These performances are usually held in the halls of the villas during the colder months and in the gardens or grounds of the estates when the weather permits it.



When the beauty of an historical location meets artistic excellence they create the perfect union between two types of art and generate unmissable events that promote our rich cultural heritage.