ESTATE INTERNAZIONALE DEL FOLKLORE APS
A river of spectators fills the streets of Castrovillari with the International Summer of Folklore and the Pollino National Park.
Since 1984, the festival has enlivened the Pollino town with the vital energy of popular cultures from five continents. Conceived and directed by Antonio Notaro, the event is a fascinating journey through dances, costumes, and sounds that tell the story and soul of its people.
For six days, the streets and squares fill with African drums, Balkan melodies, South American songs, Eastern movements, and Mediterranean rhythms. Each group brings its own identity, narrating it through body language, music, and color, in a mosaic of emotions that unites and brings people together. Alongside the performances, a rich program of masterclasses, dance and cooking classes, exhibitions, and cultural events offers visitors the opportunity to experience culture in an authentic and participatory way.
Over the years, Castrovillari has welcomed delegations from Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, consolidating its international vocation. More than a festival, it's a celebration of humanity: an embrace of sounds and smiles that transcends borders and languages, reminding us that folk music, in all its forms, remains the deepest and most universal heartbeat on earth.
The crowds roam the streets of the city center, eager to learn about the seven countries that participate each year. The evening opens with the parade of the "A World of Colors" groups, which, starting from Piazza Giovanni XXIII, sees the groups proceed to Piazza Municipio, dancing to the rhythm of their own traditions and drawing everyone into a great celebration of joy.
UAMPA APS (Italy)
