Arteinfesta: the artists’ festival that changed the borough’s summer

There was a summer in Torino di Sangro when people realized that culture could be something different. It was 2017, and over sixty artists had gathered in the square, with two hundred works on display and two thousand visitors. It was called—and is still called—Arteinfesta, and it was the first event organized by a newly founded association: LiberArti.

A promise in the name

The name LiberArti combines two words: liberate and art. The reference is explicit—the association aims to “liberate the talent” of artists, especially young ones, by giving them a channel to express themselves and be seen. The motto coined by president Carmela Caravaggio sums up this tension in a short phrase: “traditionally innovative.” On one hand, the town’s roots, its traditions, and its folk elegance; on the other, an openness to the contemporary, the digital, and the new generations.

The association was founded around 2017 and immediately set itself an ambitious goal: to promote art and artists without confining itself to a pre-established format, but by reinventing the formula every year. This gave rise to Arteinfesta, its most recognizable event.

The numbers behind an idea that worked

The first edition in 2017 surprised everyone:

• Over 60 participating artists, from across the region and beyond
• 200 works on display—painting, sculpture, photography, installations
• 2,000 visitors in just a few days

The 2018 edition doubled in size: more than 100 artists joined. The message got through: a small town on the Costa dei Trabocchi can host contemporary art with the same dignity as a big city, while still keeping the warmth of a town square—where visitors chat with exhibitors, share a glass of wine with the artist, and head home with a piece of the region in their hands.

“We want to promote art and artists, providing them with a platform for their talent. We want to do so in a modern and innovative way, while preserving the elegance and traditions of the past.” — Carmela Caravaggio, President of LiberArti

Beyond the exhibition: music, books, dialogues

LiberArti didn’t stop at Arteinfesta. In the years that followed, the association brought concerts, book presentations, and conversations with authors to Torino di Sangro, expanding its cultural offerings far beyond the format of the group exhibition.

The highlight of this expansion came on August 19, 2019, with “Musica Maestro”: a classical music concert featuring Maestro Donato Renzetti—an internationally renowned conductor born in Torino di Sangro—leading the “Gioachino Rossini” Philharmonic Orchestra of Pesaro, with over fifty musicians gathered for one evening in the Maestro’s hometown. A rare occasion: a great conductor returning to his hometown square, free of charge, for the community.

Why it matters for the town

Events like Arteinfesta aren’t just about numbers. What they’ve shifted in Torino di Sangro is a perception: that the town isn’t just about the beach and food, but also culture. That beyond the beach, the trabocchi, and the brodetto, there’s a legacy of visual arts, classical music, and literature that deserves to shine. For those who live in the town year-round, it’s a breath of fresh air—the idea that their town matters, in the regional imagination and beyond.

For those coming from outside, it’s an invitation not to stop at the postcard: to ask the locals when and where the next LiberArti event is taking place, and to stay an extra day to participate.

To discover the current program

• Official Facebook page: facebook.com/liberartitds
• Municipality of Torino di Sangro: comune.torinodisangro.ch.it (events section)
• Pro Loco Torino di Sangro APS: seasonal calendar