There is theatre under the stars, and then there is theatre in Verezzi. The Festival Teatrale di Borgio Verezzi transforms the Piazzetta Sant’Agostino — a tiny 14th-century square perched on a Ligurian hillside — into one of Italy’s most magical summer stages. Now in its 60th year, this festival founded by Enrico Rembado and Maria Valentinotti Rossi in 1967 has grown from a local initiative into a nationally respected cultural event.

The Setting

Borgio Verezzi, nicknamed il paese del teatro (the theatre town), is a split-level comune on the Riviera delle Palme. Verezzi itself is a perfectly preserved medieval borgo of stone archways, pastel facades, and panoramic terraces overlooking the Ligurian Sea. The piazzetta in front of the Chiesa di Sant’Agostino becomes an open-air auditorium each summer, with seating for several hundred spectators arranged on the ancient stone paving. The backdrop — the church’s Romanesque façade bathed in warm stage lighting — is worth the ticket price alone.

The 2026 Programme

The festival traditionally runs from early July through mid-August, with performances most evenings (closed Mondays). The repertoire balances theatrical classics (Goldoni, Shakespeare, Pirandello) with contemporary works tied to an annual theme. In recent years, the festival has ventured into site-specific productions — including a celebrated staging of Dante’s Inferno inside the fossil caves of the Verezzi hillside, an immersive theatrical experience unlike anything else in Liguria.

The 2026 programme is typically published in May. Check festivalverezzi.it for the latest announcements and ticket sales.

Practical Information

Tickets: Typically €15–30 per performance, with discounts for residents and multi-show passes.
Getting there: Borgio Verezzi is served by the Borgio Verezzi train station on the Genoa–Ventimiglia line. From the station it’s a steep 20-minute walk uphill to Verezzi (or a short taxi ride). Driving: A10 motorway, exit Pietra Ligure, then follow signs to Verezzi.
Parking: Limited in the borgo. Arrive early or use the shuttle from Borgio.
What to bring: Evenings can turn cool on the hillside — bring a light jacket. Performances go ahead rain or shine (the seating area is covered).
Pre-show dinner: Arrive early and eat in one of Verezzi’s handful of small trattorias with sea-view terraces. The local pigato wine and pansotti al sugo di noci (walnut sauce ravioli) are the regional specialties.

Make a Trip of It

Verezzi is just inland from the Riviera delle Palme — combine the festival with beach days in Finale Ligure (5 minutes by train) or explore the medieval streets of Noli and Varigotti. The Grotte di Borgio Verezzi (the same caves used for the Dante performances) offer daytime guided tours of their colourful karst formations.