Events at the Tauriani Archaeological Park — July-August 2026

Parco Archeologico dei Tauriani · Palmi, Costa Viola, Calabria

24 July 2026 – 27 August 2026

From 24 July to 27 August 2026 the Tauriani Archaeological Park in Palmi hosts 'Events at the Tauriani Archaeological Park', a summer season of seven evenings blending cinema, theatre, jazz and astronomy on a plateau overlooking Calabria's Costa Viola. The programme includes two open-air film screenings (5 EUR), a theatre performance and three 'Tauriani in Jazz' concerts (12 EUR), plus a free stargazing night with the Reggio Calabria Planetarium on 23 August. Set among the ruins of ancient Tauriana, the events turn one of the oldest sites of the Tyrrhenian coast into an open-air stage under the stars.

A cultural season on the plateau of the Costa Viola

From 24 July to 27 August 2026 the Tauriani Archaeological Park in Palmi becomes an open-air stage with the season 'Events at the Tauriani Archaeological Park'. Seven evenings weave together cinema, theatre, jazz music and stargazing on the plateau of ancient Tauriana, overlooking the Costa Viola. The programme is promoted by the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria and the province of Vibo Valentia (Italian Ministry of Culture), the City of Palmi, the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria and the Tauriani Archaeological Park. The result is a summer festival that blends archaeology, landscape and live performance in one of the most striking settings on Calabria's Tyrrhenian coast.

The Tauriani Archaeological Park

The 'Antonio De Salvo' Tauriani Archaeological Park stands in the Taureana district of Palmi, on a plateau of around three hectares perched above the Costa Viola. It occupies the site of ancient Tauriana (Latin Taureanum), the centre of the Bruttian people known as the Tauriani, which flourished from the 4th century BC into the Roman age. Inaugurated on 17 September 2011 and named after the Palmi physician and historian Antonio De Salvo, the park preserves the House of the Mosaic, with a polychrome mosaic depicting a hunting scene, a building for performances that began as an amphitheatre, a Roman sanctuary on a high podium and a stretch of paved road once linked to the Via Popilia. Beside the park lies the San Fantino complex with its early-Christian crypt, regarded as the oldest Christian place of worship in Calabria documented by reliable sources: a barrel-vaulted underground chamber, originally a Roman cistern later reused for burial. The site is protected by the ABAP Superintendency of Reggio Calabria and Vibo Valentia.

The day-by-day programme

The season unfolds across seven evening events. Here is the full calendar with the times and prices shown on the official poster:
• 24 July, 9:00 pm — Cinema: 'Into Paradiso' by Paola Randi (Italy, 2010) — ticket 5 EUR
• 31 July, 9:00 pm — Cinema: 'Banana' by Andrea Jublin — ticket 5 EUR
• 12 August, 9:30 pm — Theatre: 'Uccelli o della Città Sognata', by Officine Arti RC — ticket 12 EUR
• 13 August, 9:30 pm — Tauriani in Jazz: Colombo Menniti — ticket 12 EUR
• 22 August, 7:00 pm — Tauriani in Jazz: RifleSsuoni — ticket 12 EUR
• 23 August, 9:00 pm — 'Sotto le stelle al Parco' with the Reggio Calabria Planetarium — free admission
• 27 August, 9:30 pm — Tauriani in Jazz: Antonio Cusato Trio — ticket 12 EUR
Note that the 22 August concert starts at 7:00 pm, earlier than the other evening events.

Tauriani in Jazz

'Tauriani in Jazz' is the music strand of the season, with three concerts bringing fine jazz among the ruins of the ancient city. It opens on 13 August (9:30 pm) with guitarist and composer Colombo Menniti, a musician from Mileto with a long international career. On 22 August, at an earlier 7:00 pm, comes RifleSsuoni, a project that weaves together jazz and Italian songwriting. The strand closes on 27 August (9:30 pm) with the Antonio Cusato Trio, led by Calabrian jazz guitarist Antonio Cusato. All concerts have a 12 EUR ticket.

Cinema, theatre and stars

Alongside the music, the season offers cinema, theatre and astronomy. The two film screenings (5 EUR ticket) open the calendar: on 24 July 'Into Paradiso', the debut film by Paola Randi presented at the 67th Venice Film Festival, and on 31 July 'Banana', the directorial debut of Andrea Jublin with music by Nicola Piovani. On 12 August (9:30 pm, 12 EUR ticket) the theatre piece 'Uccelli o della Città Sognata' takes the stage, a dreamlike reworking of Aristophanes' 'The Birds'. The most family-friendly evening is 23 August: 'Sotto le stelle al Parco', a free stargazing night with the Reggio Calabria Planetarium, to observe the summer sky from the plateau.

Practical information and contacts

All events take place at the Tauriani Archaeological Park, Via del Vescovato 181, 89015 Palmi (RC), in the Taureana district. Prices vary by evening: 5 EUR for the film screenings, 12 EUR for the theatre and jazz concerts, while the astronomy night on 23 August is free. For information and bookings you can call +39 389 297 3761 and +39 377 397 6017. To plan your visit you can browse places to stay in Palmi and discover where to eat in Palmi, pairing an evening at the Park with a day by the sea at the Tonnara or a walk on Monte Sant'Elia.

Frequently asked questions

When and where does the 'Events at the Tauriani Archaeological Park' season take place?

The season runs from 24 July to 27 August 2026, with seven evenings at the Tauriani Archaeological Park, Via del Vescovato 181, 89015 Palmi (RC), in the Taureana district.

How much are the tickets?

Prices vary by event: the film screenings on 24 and 31 July cost 5 EUR; the theatre performance on 12 August and the three 'Tauriani in Jazz' concerts (13, 22 and 27 August) cost 12 EUR. The astronomy night on 23 August is free.

Are there any free events?

Yes. The 'Sotto le stelle al Parco' evening on 23 August (9:00 pm), with the Reggio Calabria Planetarium, is free to attend.

What is the Tauriani Archaeological Park?

It is the 'Antonio De Salvo' archaeological park of Palmi, in the Taureana district, which stands on the site of ancient Tauriana on a plateau overlooking the Costa Viola. It preserves the House of the Mosaic, a building for performances, a Roman sanctuary and, beside it, the early-Christian crypt of San Fantino, regarded as the oldest Christian place of worship in Calabria.

Who are the 'Tauriani in Jazz' artists?

The three concerts feature Colombo Menniti (13 August), RifleSsuoni (22 August, 7:00 pm) and the Antonio Cusato Trio (27 August). Each concert has a 12 EUR ticket.

How do I get there and how do I contact the organisers?

The events take place at Via del Vescovato 181, in Palmi (RC), in the Taureana district. For information and bookings you can call +39 389 297 3761 and +39 377 397 6017.

Who organises the season?

It is promoted by the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria and the province of Vibo Valentia (Italian Ministry of Culture), the City of Palmi, the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria and the Tauriani Archaeological Park.

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All Costa Viola events