Medieval Festival: The Great Tale of History
The most qualified Italian and European historians, along with writers, journalists, and entertainers, are taking on a truly cultural challenge: to narrate ten centuries of history to the general public in a simple yet engaging way, from the fall of the Roman Empire to the discovery of America (476-1492).
“The Journey. Pilgrims, Wayfarers, Explorers” will be the theme of the eleventh edition of the Medieval Festival.
In the Jubilee Year, the Medieval Festival addresses the prejudice of an era wrongly considered “immobile,” but instead characterized by incessant movement and the continuous exchange of goods, knowledge, and cultures. Travel as a metaphor for life. Epic migrations of peoples, nomadic empires, and itinerant courts. Journeys of faith and armed pilgrimages. Maps and labyrinths. Promised lands and sacred mountains. Merchants and outlaws, wandering clerics and jesters, knights and outcasts, fugitives, spies, and missionaries capable of tackling long distances by land and sea. Towards new horizons or along legendary paths. In the spirit of a thirst for knowledge and adventure, in search of feared or admired “foreigners,” in unknown lands, from the Far East to the remote and cold lands of the North, from the deserts of Central Asia to mysterious Africa.
A Middle Ages far from the banality of stereotypes, seen as a long period of innovation and transformation. And of continuous “renaissances” in all fields of knowledge, from art to politics, from public institutions to everyday life. A thousand and more years of great journeys, pilgrimages, and trade between distant and diverse worlds, characterized by a myriad of innovations and discoveries.
Popular Lectures. As every year, it will be possible to attend the popular lectures at the Santo Spirito Conference Center (Piazzale Frondizi 17, Gubbio) in the morning and afternoon sessions.
Author Evenings. With leading figures in culture and entertainment
Furthermore, you can become a member of the “Friends of the Medieval Festival” club. Your donation will support the Festival organization and entitle you to numerous benefits:
– 72-hour priority purchase of art-house evenings. Friends of the Festival will have 72-hour early access to the online ticket office. Please note: You can purchase up to a maximum of two tickets per person.
– Free reserved seating. Members will be entitled to a free reserved seat for a day of classes of their choice.
– Certificate of participation. Only those who are members of the “Friends of the Festival” club and book at least one day of classes will be entitled to receive, upon request, a certificate of participation for the Festival days.
– Discount on the Festival app. Friends of the Festival can purchase the Festival app at the discounted price of €35 (full price €50). The app provides access to the library with all videos from the 2015-2023 editions and live streams of the five days of the 2024 edition.
– Discounts on Festival books and merchandise during the days in Gubbio. By showing the digital card, which will be sent to members via email, you will receive a discount on all Festival products for sale in Gubbio during the event.
PARTNERS AND SPONSORSHIPS The Medieval Festival enjoys the scientific patronage of Treccani, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, the Italian Historical Institute for the Middle Ages (ISIME), and the Giancarlo Pallavicini Foundation.
Many other collateral events enrich the five days dedicated to the Middle Ages: the “Medieval Book Fair,” featuring major publishing houses and specialized publishers; “Miniatori dal Mondo,” an event during which expert Italian and foreign calligraphers share the arts of medieval scriptoria with students and enthusiasts; the “Arts and Crafts Workshops,” a market-exhibition featuring artisanal products; and “Children’s Middle Ages,” featuring games, readings, entertainment, art workshops, and drawing classes for younger visitors.
There will also be role-playing games, performances by reenactors, recitals, medieval music concerts, lectures, and guided tours with in-depth cultural insights into contemporary history.
Via della Repubblica, 15
turismo@comune.gubbio.pg.it
+39 075 922 0693
©2025 • Comune di Gubbio • P.I. e C.F. 00334990546 • Privacy Policy • Credits
Via della Repubblica, 15
turismo@comune.gubbio.pg.it
+39 075 922 0693
©2025 • Comune di Gubbio • P.I. e C.F. 00334990546 • Privacy Policy • Credits