Italy marks 800 years since St. Francis of Assisi’s death with festivals and cultural events

The 2026 edition of the Ravenna Festival released a book‑catalog titled “Nacque al mondo un sole”, commemorating the eighth centenary of St Francis of Assisi’s death and the 1,500th anniversary of Theoderic. The volume gathers essays on Franciscan spirituality, medieval art and the city’s Gothic past, with contributions from scholars and a foreword by Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa.

In Bitonto, the fourth edition of the summer theatre series “Siamo Tu – Teatro dell'Ulivo” was renamed “SÌAMO creaTUre”. The programme, inspired by the Canticle of the Creatures, includes workshops, four staged performances and a final public show on 12 July, supported by the municipal cultural department and local cooperatives.

The Diocese of Novara launched the “Ora viene il Bello!” summer itinerary, a series of pilgrimages, masses and cultural visits in several towns (Sizzano, Ghemme, Ameno, Orta, Borgomanero, Gattico) that trace Franciscan themes and invite families and youth to contemplate creation.

San Fele hosted “Francesco – Sulle vie del cuore”, a theatre project backed by the Ministry of Culture. Starring Barbara De Rossi, Lorenzo Flaherty and director‑actor Francesco Branchetti, the production blends drama, music and a workshop for migrants and vulnerable youths.

Bitonto’s Libreria del Teatro presented the book “Il Cantico dell’Amore”, while Savona organised a charitable exhibition, both marking the 800‑year anniversary of St Francis’s death across the region.