On Friday, April 17, this Baroque gem finally returns to the city. A full weekend of events will celebrate the reopening of one of L’Aquila’s iconic landmarks of education and theater.
There is an invisible thread that links our city’s historical memory to its present as the 2026 Italian Capital of Culture. That thread is once again becoming a tangible reality today with the reopening of the Teatro San Filippo, a venue that has represented a place of growth, discovery, and artistic wonder for generations of residents of L’Aquila.
On Friday, April 17, starting in the morning and continuing throughout the weekend, the doors of the former Church of San Filippo Neri will once again swing wide open to welcome the community with a marathon of theater and music dedicated to both adults and children.
The Splendor of the Baroque in the Heart of L’Aquila
Located within the medieval layout of the historic center, San Filippo is a precious example of 17th-century Baroque architecture. While the rough-hewn stone facade retains an austere and almost “unfinished” appearance, once you cross the threshold, your gaze is captivated by the rich decorative elements that the meticulous restoration has preserved in all their magnificence.
With a seating capacity of 206, the theater is not only a monument restored to its former beauty, but also a modern facility suitable for public performances. Thanks to close collaboration between the City of L’Aquila, the FEC (Fund for Places of Worship of the Ministry of the Interior), which owns the building, and the Superintendency, it will be managed directly by the City to host events, performances, and the major season of the Capital of Culture.
The “cornerstone” of the rebirth
The reopening of San Filippo marks a crucial milestone in the process of restoring the city’s beauty. As Mayor Pierluigi Biondi emphasized, the region’s most prestigious cultural institutions have helped make culture the cornerstone of L’Aquila’s rebirth. San Filippo, historically linked to activities for children and young people, is once again becoming a “place close to the heart,” especially for the younger generations. It will be the space where those born after the earthquake can build their own memories, contributing to the growth of the young people who will shape L’Aquila’s future.
A Collaborative Restoration: Music and Institutions
The restoration of this space is the result of an exceptional collective effort. Fundamental to this effort were the proceeds from the famous song “Domani 21/04.09,” which brought together fifty-six leading Italian musicians to support L’Aquila’s cultural heritage, raising over 1.1 million euros donated by Sugar Music and Macù Edizioni.
In addition to this extraordinary contribution, there was national funding for reconstruction and an investment of 500,000 euros from the City of L’Aquila. Specifically, the project was funded under the Extraordinary Intervention Program for Urban Renewal and Safety in the Suburbs of Metropolitan Cities and Provincial Capitals, administered by the Office of the Prime Minister. This latest phase of the project, scheduled for completion in June 2025, has made it possible to finish the remaining work to ensure the structure is fully suitable and safe for public performances, thereby clarifying its legal status to allow for public use.