The 19th edition of Paleofestival, a festival dedicated topopular experimental archaeology on the ancient world, kicks off April 18 and 19 at the San Giorgio Castle in Spice, starting at 3:30 p.m. The program was presented this morning by Mayor Pierluigi Peracchini, Cultural Services manager Rosanna Ghirri and initiative curator Donatella Alessi.
For the occasion, the spaces of the Castle, from the garden to the terraces to the interior areas, will be transformed into an urban archaeological park. A number of interactive stations run by experimental archaeologists, archaeotechnicians and museum education experts will be set up here, guiding the public to discover life in prehistory and ancient civilizations through interactive demonstrations and workshops.
The Paleofestival is distinguished by its experiential approach: playful activities, hands-on workshops and moments of entertainment will directly engage visitors of all ages. Children and adults will be able to try their hand at working with materials to make tools and objects from prehistoric times and the great civilizations of ancient history, to gain a concrete understanding of the techniques and knowledge of ancient times. This method recalls that of antiquity, when learning took place through practice, ensuring the transmission of knowledge within the community.
Therefore, the Paleofestival is an opportunity to closely observe the craftsmanship carried out by specialists, but also to actively participate, retracing the different stages of production with materials and techniques faithful to the original ones. Now in its nineteenth edition, the Paleofestival is now a well-established event in the cultural scene of Spezia and beyond. The continuous renewal of activities has helped to attract an increasingly wide and varied audience, enjoying considerable success over the years.
The 2026 program is particularly rich, with about forty different activities. Alongside the operators already present in previous editions, new experimenters will be involved and collaborations with archaeological parks initiated. Special attention will be devoted to the Etruscans, with numerous workshops designed to deepen the knowledge of this people and its relations with Ligurian communities.
On the scientific side, the Paleofestival conference will be held in the morning on Sunday, April 19, with free admission and no reservation required. Talks will cover experiences in experimental archaeology on Etruscan pottery, news from the archaeological parks of Montale (Piacenza) and Val Senales (Bolzano), as well as Living History historical re-enactment projects by the Friends of Luni.
Also this year there will be no shortage of activities dedicated to adults, who can participate both independently and together with children, living a shared experience.
The event is curated by Donatella Alessi, curator of the Castle Museum, and Edoardo Ratti, archaeologist and archaeotechnician.
“The Paleofestival is a central event for the cultural life of our city, capable of combining scientific research and popularization in an engaging and accessible way. The San Giorgio Castle, will be transformed into a living and participatory laboratory, where citizens and visitors of all ages can learn about the past through direct experience, play and experimentation,” said Mayor Pierluigi Peracchini. “It is precisely through knowledge of history and our roots that we can build a more caring, aware and future-oriented community. I thank all those who contribute to the realization of this event, which is a virtuous example of shared culture open to all.”
Full program here.
Ticket: €5 for children, €3 for accompanying persons
The event will also be held in case of bad weather (with reduced program)
Presales available at the Castle Museum
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| Paleofestival, an exhibition dedicated to popular experimental archaeology on the ancient world, returns to La Spezia |
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