In the southern part of Italy, in picturesque Calabria, lies Gerace – a town not only enchanting with its medieval charm but also host to one of the most fascinating international street art festivals. Il Borgo Incantato attracts tourists and art enthusiasts every year, creating an extraordinary artistic space against the backdrop of historic lanes. This is a place where layers of history – from antiquity to the Middle Ages – are still legible during an ordinary walk through the centre.
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The Mysterious World of Il Borgo Incantato Artists
Il Borgo Incantato in Gerace is a festival that has for years attracted art and culture enthusiasts to one of the most beautiful towns in Calabria. Each edition focuses on a diversity of forms and naturally makes use of the historic centre’s scenography, where tradition meets modernity. Thanks to this, narrow lanes, squares and stone stairways become part of the spectacle, not merely a backdrop for the programme.
Artists from various countries come here to fill the evenings with music, movement and street theatre. The programme features both young creators and more experienced performers, and the festival’s strength lies in its variety – from intimate shows to more spectacular open-air spectacles.
Music as the Foundation of the Festival
The Musica Incantata category is an important element of the festival. Concerts held in historic spaces such as the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta give the event a special atmosphere. Music resonates well with the old town’s architecture, and evening performances fit naturally into the rhythm of a walk through Gerace.
Spectacles and Street Theatre
An important part of the programme is street spectacles and performance art played out among the squares, alleyways and stairways of the old town. It is precisely this closeness between viewer and artist that gives the festival a more vivid, immediate character than conventional staged events. Some shows rely on humour and interaction, others on light, movement and short visual forms.
An Innovative Approach to Tradition
Il Borgo Incantato is an event where local culture meets modern forms of artistic expression. Thanks to site-specific works and contemporary staging techniques, the festival lets you see Gerace from an entirely different perspective. It is a good example of an event that does not cut itself off from its setting but uses the town’s history and layout as part of the story.
| Performance Category | Example Artists | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Acrobatics and stilts | International artists | Movement shows and open-air forms |
| Fire spectacles | Festival groups | Evening shows in the old town’s spaces |
| Theatre and comedy | Street theatres | Audience interaction and light forms |
| Music | Festival performers | Concerts and musical activities in historic interiors and on squares |
Gerace – a Medieval Jewel of Calabria with Rich Heritage
Gerace, picturesquely situated on a tuff hill at 470 metres above sea level, is one of the most beautiful towns in Calabria, which has attracted visitors with its unique beauty for centuries. It is not without reason that it is called an “enchanted town,” which fully deserves its reputation thanks to Il Borgo Incantato. According to legend, fugitives were led to the summit by a sparrowhawk – in Greek Jerax, from which the town’s name derives.
The Historical Roots of Gerace
Gerace lies about 10 km by road from Locri on the Ionian coast. The development of the settlement on the hilltop is connected with late antiquity and the early Middle Ages, when populations moved from the coast to safer locations inland. In the medieval period Gerace was an important Byzantine and then Norman centre, and the local diocese has roots reaching back to precisely this era.
The town’s history is visible in the layout of its streets and buildings, which have preserved a distinctly medieval character. Although the earthquake of 1783 struck Calabria hard, Gerace preserved a significant part of its historic fabric, which is why it still makes such a strong impression during a walk through the centro storico.
Stunning Cultural Heritage
There is no shortage of impressive monuments recalling the golden age of Gerace. The most famous is the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, one of the most important Romanesque-Norman monuments in Calabria. Construction began after the Norman conquest of these lands, and the present form of the church is the result of works from the 11th–12th centuries.
The interior has three naves and is famous for a row of ancient columns reused from the ancient site of Locri. Medieval elements survive in the crypt, and the building has been altered several times following earthquakes. Besides the cathedral, it is also worth seeing the remains of the castle in the highest part of town, the Church of San Francesco with its Baroque altar, the small San Giovannello, and the Porta del Sole, one of the former town gates.
Il Borgo Incantato Festival – Catalyst for Cultural Development in Gerace
The Il Borgo Incantato festival plays a key role in promoting the local culture of Gerace and all of Calabria, combining tradition with modernity in a remarkably tangible way. Thanks to the festival, the town becomes a living cultural centre and its historic spaces gain new life after dark. It is here that you can best see how well street art works in a place with a preserved medieval layout.
Gerace belongs to the Borghi più belli d’Italia network and holds the Bandiera Arancione certificate from the Touring Club Italiano. The historic centre has preserved its medieval urban layout, numerous churches and squares that naturally create scenography for street theatre and site-specific spectacles. The hilltop location offers views of the Ionian coast, and after dark it adds a distinctive spatial setting to the festival.
Strengthening Bonds with Tradition
Il Borgo Incantato plays an important role in preserving local traditions. During the festival, the town’s streets become a stage for spectacles inspired by local legends, allowing for the cultivation of cultural heritage. It is also a moment when residents and visitors meet in the same spaces – on squares, at town gates and along stone lanes.
Educational Workshops and Programmes
The festival also plays an educational role. Workshops organised as part of the event, such as sculpture, painting and traditional culinary arts, engage the local community. Activities of this kind complement the evening spectacles well, because they show the festival from a more local, artisanal side as well.
An Impulse for the Local Community
The festival also contributes to strengthening the local community by generating tourism revenue. The economic revival translates into greater footfall in restaurants, bars and small accommodation facilities, as well as increased interest in the historic centre itself. In practical terms, this means the event helps extend stays in Gerace and encourages visitors not to treat the town merely as a brief stop.
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The Impact of Il Borgo Incantato on Tourism Development in Calabria
Tourism Transformations Thanks to the Festival
The Il Borgo Incantato festival in Gerace has become an important part of the cultural offering in this part of Calabria. It takes place in one of the best-known borghi in the province of Reggio Calabria and draws audiences to the historic centre beyond the typical beach-based model of visiting the Calabrian Ionian coast. For many people, a visit to the festival naturally combines with discovering Locri Epizephyrii, which strengthens the cultural offering of the entire Locride area.
Growth in Tourist Numbers
The festival’s impact is best seen not in uncertain statistics but in the way it directs visitor traffic to the old town. Il Borgo Incantato encourages you to come to Gerace in the evening, to stay longer and to look at this corner of Calabria through the prism of monuments, spectacles and a walk along the hilltop, rather than solely through the coastal beaches.
Local Cuisine and Products
| Product / Dish | Tradition | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Pasta al sugo di capra | Local rural | Homemade pasta with an intense goat-meat sauce, typical of inland Calabria |
| Melanzane ’mbuttunate | Local | Stuffed aubergines, a classic home dish |
| Sheep’s and goat’s cheeses | Regional | Products well suited to the cuisine of the hills and interior |
| Dried figs and festive bakes | Home | A sweet note characteristic of the southern part of the region |
In the area, look for simple, well-prepared dishes based on local ingredients rather than legends about supposedly ancient or Byzantine origins of specific recipes. A safe guide is the cuisine of inland Calabria – pasta with goat-meat or pork sauce, stuffed aubergines, sheep’s and goat’s cheeses, extra virgin olive oil from the Ionian area of Reggio Calabria, and dried figs.
Practical Information
When: Usually 2–3 days, typically in July; check exact dates on the official event website.
Location: Centro storico, Gerace (RC) – the festival takes place outdoors, at several points in the historic centre.
Tickets: Some shows may be free, while others may require a ticket or reservation, depending on the edition.
Official website: Check the current programme and rules in the festival’s official materials.
Getting there: The nearest railway station is Locri on the Ionian line Reggio Calabria–Catanzaro/Lamezia. From Locri to Gerace it is about 10 km via the SP1 road, and the drive usually takes 15–20 minutes. The nearest major airports are Reggio Calabria (approx. 110 km) and Lamezia Terme (approx. 150 km).
On site: Parking in the historic centre is limited, so during events it is worth using car parks on the outskirts and checking for any shuttle buses organised by the municipality or the festival. The programme is usually spread over several evening hours, so it is best to arrive early and wear comfortable shoes – the old town is steep and the streets are cobbled.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Il Borgo Incantato in Gerace?
It is an international street artists’ festival that usually takes place in summer in the historic centre of Gerace. The programme includes open-air spectacles, music and street theatre performed among the squares and stone lanes of the town.
What is it like to walk through the old town of Gerace?
Walking through Gerace means passing along narrow, cobbled lanes leading to the monumental cathedral, castle ruins in the upper part of town and viewpoints over the Ionian Sea. Along the way you pass former town gates, small squares and churches best enjoyed at a leisurely pace.
Why is Gerace called an enchanted town?
The name refers to the extraordinary atmosphere of the place, where time seems to stand still, and the legend of the sparrowhawk (Jerax) and the magical setting of the Il Borgo Incantato festival underscore its unique character.
What monuments are worth seeing in Gerace?
Key points include the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, the castle remains, the Church of San Francesco with its Baroque altar, the medieval Church of San Giovannello, and the Porta del Sole. This makes a good set for a real walk through the centro storico ending at a viewpoint over the Ionian coast.
Can you try local cuisine in Gerace?
Yes, in Gerace and its surroundings look for dishes typical of inland Calabria – homemade pasta with goat-meat or pork sauce, melanzane ’mbuttunate, sheep’s and goat’s cheeses, and dried-fig sweets. The cuisine is simple, substantial and closely tied to local products.