The 2026 Vesuvian Villas Festival kicks off with the Scarpetta dopo Scarpetta exhibition and a concert by Avion Travel.

The 37th edition of the Vesuvian Villas Festival, titled "The Age of the Golden Mile – Lava Stones and Golden Crystals," kicks off today, Friday, July 3rd. Until July 29th, the historic 18th-century residences of the Golden Mile will be brought back to life with a rich program of theater, music, dance, and exhibitions, including Ercolano, Torre del Greco, Portici, Naples-Barra, and San Giorgio a Cremano.

Promoted by the Fondazione Ente Ville Vesuviane with the support of the Ministry of Culture and the Campania Region, the festival is artistically directed by Bruno Tabacchini and this year celebrates the profound connection between the Vesuvian area and its noble villas.

It starts at Villa Campolieto

The journey will begin at Villa Campolieto in Ercolano, a jewel of 18th-century Vesuvian architecture. The opening day features two unmissable highlights.

At 19:30 pm, the exhibition "Scarpetta after Scarpetta" opens in the Scuderie di Villa Campolieto , an iconographic journey curated by Francesco Cotticelli, Pino Miraglia, and Gianni Pinto. The exhibition is being held to mark the centenary of the death of Eduardo Scarpetta , the great Neapolitan actor and playwright, the father of the modern Neapolitan theatrical tradition, in collaboration with the Fondazione Teatro Trianon Viviani.

Following that, on the same evening, the highly anticipated concert by Avion Travel with the Nuova Orchestra Scarlatti conducted by Angelo Valori . The Caserta-based band, among the most beloved on the Italian music scene, will perform in one of the most evocative locations on the Golden Mile for an opening that promises to combine orchestral sounds with the group's unmistakable signature.

A festival spread across the villas of the Golden Mile

The 2026 Vesuvian Villas Festival program includes over 20 events, including prose, concerts, and dance performances.

Among the most anticipated events on the program: Serena Rossi with “SereNATA a Napoli” on July 8th, Massimiliano Gallo with “Lettera ad Eduardo” accompanied by the Napoli Nord Big Band on July 11th, Lina Sastri with “Voce 'e notte… la mia musica” on July 18th and Giampaolo Morelli with “Scomode verità e 3 storie vere” on July 22nd.

There will also be space for dance with the Grand Gala “Excellence of Dance” on July 12, featuring star Giuseppe Picone together with performers from the Munich State Theatre and the Varna Opera Theatre.

The festival will close on July 29th at Villa Campolieto with a major symphonic event: the Teatro di San Carlo will perform Carl Orff's “Carmina Burana” for soloists, choir, two pianos and percussion, conducted by Fabrizio Cassi.

Info

Place:

Villa Campolieto, Corso Resina, Ercolano (NA)
Festival dates: from 3 to 29 July 2026
Opening: Friday 3 July 2026
Show Scarpetta after Scarpetta: 19:30 p.m. (Villa Campolieto Stables)
Avion Travel Concert: to follow, same evening
Entrance: Full price €15 · Reduced price for under 25s and over 65s €10
Info and tickets: official website villevesuviane.net
Organization: Vesuvian Villas Foundation

FAQ

Where does the Vesuvian Villas Festival take place?

The festival is held in several historic villas along the Golden Mile: Villa Campolieto (Ercolano), Villa delle Ginestre and Palazzo Vallelonga (Torre del Greco), Villa Mascolo and the Royal Palace of Portici (Portici), Palazzo Bisignano and Villa Spinelli (Naples-Barra), and Villa Bruno (San Giorgio a Cremano).

How much does a ticket for the shows cost?
Full-price tickets cost €15, while reduced tickets for under-25s and over-65s cost €10. Prices may vary for individual events.

Is it possible to visit the Scarpetta dopo Scarpetta exhibition without attending the concert?
The exhibition is set up in the Stables of Villa Campolieto and can be visited during the opening evening.

How old is the Vesuvian Villas Festival?
This year, the festival reaches its 37th edition, confirming its position as one of the longest-running events on the Campania cultural scene.