Sport, Storie Gaeta 2026: The Storytelling Festival from October 14 to 16

Sport, Storie Gaeta – Il Festival della Narrazione returns from 14 to 16 October 2026 for its second edition, bringing Olympic and world champions to Gaeta: Elisa Di Francisca, Matteo Tagliariol, Luca Curatoli, Manuel Bortuzzo, Alessia Filippi, Roberto Cammarelle, and Vito Dell’Aquila. In the morning, sports discussions take place at the Teatro Ariston; in the afternoon, from 16 to 21, the Villaggio dello Sport fills Piazza XIX Maggio and Piazza Mons. Di Liegro with exhibitions, competitions, and open trials for both adults and children. The whole festival is free to attend.

Guest champions, day by day

• Elisa Di Francisca, Olympic, World, and European foil champion, key figure in Italy’s historic podium sweep at London 2012 — Wednesday 14 October, Giornata del Fioretto at the Villaggio, from 17:00.
• Margherita Porro, helmswoman for Luna Rossa and winner of the Women’s America’s Cup 2024 — Wednesday 14, Teatro Ariston, 11:30.
• Manuel Bortuzzo, Paralympic swimmer, bronze medalist in the 100 breaststroke at Paris 2024, and Alessia Filippi, World swimming champion and Olympic silver medalist at Beijing 2008 — Thursday 15 October, Teatro Ariston, 10:00 and 11:30.
• Massimo Bulleri, Olympic basketball silver medalist at Athens 2004 — Thursday 15, Teatro Ariston, 10:00.
• Matteo Tagliariol, Olympic épée champion at Beijing 2008 — Thursday 15 October, Giornata della Spada at the Villaggio, from 17:00.
• Roberto Cammarelle, Olympic champion and two-time boxing world champion, and Giorgia Villa, Olympic team silver medalist in artistic gymnastics at Paris 2024 — Friday 16 October, Teatro Ariston, 10:00.
• Vito Dell’Aquila, Olympic and world taekwondo champion — Friday 16, Teatro Ariston, 12:00.
• Luca Curatoli, Olympic silver medalist and world sabre champion — Friday 16 October, Giornata della Sciabola at the Villaggio, from 17:00.

Teatro Ariston: conferences and talks every morning

Wednesday 14 October — hosted by Sofia Oranges (RAI)

• 10:00 — Institutional greetings and the 40th anniversary of the Sezione Vela delle Fiamme Gialle, with regional councilor Cosmo Mitrano.
• 11:00 — «Il mio calcio, il nostro Diego»: Giuseppe Incocciati shares his story with Alberto Reggiani (Latina Oggi).
• 11:30 — «Gaeta e la grande vela: il talento, la squadra, la sfida», with Margherita Porro (Luna Rossa) and Pierluigi Fornelli, technical director of the Sezione Vela delle Fiamme Gialle.
• 12:00 — «Sport, salute e benessere: una scelta di vita», with Maria Spena (Sport e Salute), Stefano Tilli, European athletics champion, and Alessandro Inserra (ASP Istituti Riuniti del Lazio).

Thursday 15 October — hosted by Dario Ricci (Radio 24)

• 10:00 — «Olympia in Comune: lo sport incontra il mito», with Mayor of Gaeta Cristian Leccese, Mayors Carmine Agostinelli (San Bartolomeo in Galdo) and Roberto Luciani (Ripa Teatina), Councilor Giuseppe Montano (Policoro), journalist Massimo Ciccognani, Massimo Bulleri, Manuel Bortuzzo, and Alessia Filippi.
• 11:30 — Manuel Bortuzzo and Alessia Filippi in conversation with Dario Ricci.

Friday 16 October — hosted by Manuel Codignoni (RAI, Radio 1)

• 10:00 — «Il valore delle regole, la forza dei campioni», with Flavio D’Ambrosi (Fiamme Oro), Roberto Cammarelle, Giorgia Villa, and clay shooting champions Giancarlo Tazza and Domenico Simeone.
• 12:00 — Vito Dell’Aquila in conversation with Manuel Codignoni.

Festival della Scherma: three evenings with Olympic champions

Every afternoon at the Villaggio, from 17:00 to 21:00: rules, live fencing, meetings with the champions, and questions from the audience.

• Wednesday 14 — Giornata del Fioretto with Elisa Di Francisca: 17:00 opening and rules; 17:30 presentation; 18:00 live demonstration; 18:30 career and Olympic Games; 19:00 blind fencing; 19:30 sports nutrition (Dr. Gianfilippo Di Nucci); 20:00 special exhibition by Elisa Di Francisca and audience Q&A; closing at 21:00.
• Thursday 15 — Giornata della Spada with Matteo Tagliariol: 17:00 opening and rules; 17:30 live fencing; 18:00 career and medals; 18:30 «Oltre il traguardo: scegliere l’obiettivo, governare il processo»; 19:10 dietary supplementation (Dr. Paolo Catalani); 19:30 exhibition by Tagliariol and audience Q&A; closing at 21:00.
• Friday 16 — Giornata della Sciabola with Luca Curatoli: 17:00 opening and rules; 17:30 presentation with video; 18:00 live demonstration; 18:30 career, Olympic Games, and Q&A; 19:20 injury prevention (Dr. Fabio Camerota); 19:40 fencing and the Paralympic world; closing at 21:00.

Villaggio dello Sport: 16:00-21:00, Piazza XIX Maggio and Piazza Mons. Di Liegro

Three afternoons to watch and try: track and field, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/MMA, five-a-side football, judo, movement & dance, basketball, handball, volleyball, boxing, fencing, and taekwondo. The Villaggio announcer is Erasmo Lombardi Di Perna.

• Track and field — «Salto in Piazza» with S.S.D. Formia Atletica Leggera: open trials for children from 16:00, competitions with 8-10 elite athletes from 17:00. Wednesday high jump, Thursday long jump, Friday pole vault.
• Boxing with N.P. Boxing Team led by coach Nunzia Patti: daily 16:00-20:00, demonstrations and bouts in the ring, featuring Giuseppe Foglia, Antonio and Enzo Brillantino, Riccardo D’Andrea, and world champion Mirko Domenico Valentino.
• Martial arts: Wednesday Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA with Marco Lustro (16:00 children, 17:15 adults, 18:45 MMA); Thursday taekwondo with ASD Taekwondofire led by master Gabriele Di Manno; Friday 16:00-20:00 taekwondo with ASD Taekwondo Carangelo led by master Angelo Carandente, with open trials for children and families.
• Basketball with ASD Basket Serapo 85: Wednesday 16:00 pulcini (ages 5-6) and 17:30 esordienti (ages 11-12); Thursday 18:30 scoiattoli (ages 7-8) and 19:30 aquilotti (ages 9-10), with free trials.
• Volleyball with ASD Serapo Volley Gaeta: Wednesday 19:00 amateur tournament open to the public; Thursday 16:30 club showcase; Friday 16:30 S3 volleyball and 17:30 free trials for ages 6-14.
• Handball with Gaeta Sporting Club: Thursday 17:30 and Friday 18:30. Five-a-side football with A.S.D. Gaeta Futsal Laundromat: Thursday 20:30.
• Movement & Danza: Wednesday Pilates, hip hop, and contemporary dance (Fisiolab and Release); Thursday introductory movement, classical ballet, and hip hop for children and adults (Il Centro del Movimento) and activities with youths from Fondazione «Don Cosimino Fronzuto»; Friday rhythmic gymnastics and Latin American dance open to everyone (Universo Danza) and techno yoga (Sunsea Studio).

Where it takes place and how to get there

Everything is set in the center of Gaeta, just steps from one another: the Teatro Ariston, in Piazza della Libertà, for the morning talks; Piazza XIX Maggio, in front of the Town Hall, and Piazza Mons. Di Liegro, between Via Diaz and Via Cadorna, for the afternoon Villaggio. If you are arriving by car, make sure to read the guide to parking and the ZTL first.

Who is behind it

The festival’s institutional partners include the Ministro per lo Sport e i Giovani, Sport e Salute, CONI Lazio, the Comitato Italiano Paralimpico Lazio, the Regione Lazio, and the Città di Gaeta, along with local sports clubs.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Sport, Storie Gaeta 2026 take place?

From Wednesday 14 to Friday 16 October 2026: in the morning at Teatro Ariston, from 10:00; in the afternoon at the Villaggio dello Sport, from 16:00 to 21:00.

When will Elisa Di Francisca be in Gaeta?

Wednesday 14 October, at the Giornata del Fioretto at the Villaggio dello Sport, from 17:00 to 21:00. At 20:00 there will be her special demonstration, followed by questions from the audience.

When will Manuel Bortuzzo and Alessia Filippi be there?

Thursday 15 October at Teatro Ariston: at 10:00 for the talk “Olympia in Comune” and at 11:30 in conversation with Dario Ricci from Radio 24.

When will Matteo Tagliariol and Luca Curatoli be there?

Matteo Tagliariol on Thursday 15 October, for the Giornata della Spada; Luca Curatoli on Friday 16 October, for the Giornata della Sciabola. Both at the Villaggio dello Sport, from 17:00 to 21:00.

Where does the festival take place?

In the centre of Gaeta: Teatro Ariston for the morning talks, Piazza XIX Maggio and Piazza Mons. Di Liegro for the Villaggio dello Sport.

Can children try the sports?

Yes: at the Villaggio there are open taster sessions in athletics from 16:00, basketball for ages 5–12, volleyball for ages 6–14, taekwondo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and dance classes open to everyone.

Do I need a ticket?

No: Sport, Storie Gaeta is free and open to everyone, both the talks at the Teatro Ariston and the Sports Village.

Sources

Official festival programme (leaflet “Sport Storie Gaeta – Il Festival della Narrazione, seconda edizione”, received on 8 October 2026). Free entry: press release from the Comune di Gaeta (8 October 2026).

All events for the month can be found in what to do in Gaeta in October. Have a question? Message Enea on WhatsApp.