In the charming medieval village of Aielli, nestled in the Abruzzo mountains, Borgo Universo, a unique festival that blends street art, music, astronomy and culture into an immersive and engaging experience, comes to life every summer. The 2025 edition will be heldAug. 1 to 3, transforming the town into a veritable open-air museum. 
A village that tells stories on the walls
Born in 2017, Borgo Universo aims to enhance the area through urban art. Today Aielli is home to more than 40 murals created by internationally renowned artists, telling stories of identity, memory and the future. The works wind through the alleys of the historic center, which can be visited freely throughout the year or with guided tours organized on weekends.
Music, performance and science for all ages
During the festival, the streets come alive with live concerts, DJ sets, circus shows and art performances. New for 2025 is the return of the Science Festival, a tribute to science popularization as a popular, accessible, curious and engaging festival featuring eight thematic booths dedicated to interactive experiences on science, history and gastronomy designed for both adults and children. It will be possible to carry out activities related to astronomy, biology, Fucino archaeology and science education; special projects such as “On the Route of the Stars” and “The Milky Way Bar” will offer moments of discovery between taste, science and territorial identity. There will also be tastings, street food with five selected food trucks and a large market area with handicrafts and local products, which will enliven the streets of the village during the three-day festival.
A rich artistic program including street artists, musicians, performers and DJs has been announced for the 2025 edition. Some of the confirmed names are those of Street Artists Predrag Radovanovic and Rame13, who will create new murals that will enrich the village’s open-air museum. But there will be more than just murals, during the Festival it will be possible to enjoy live music and concerts, DJ sets, as well asperformances and Street Theater, also in a traveling version.
The festival is confirmed as a multidisciplinary event, capable of combining visual art, live music, science and culture in a festive and engaging atmosphere.
A connection with the sky
Aielli boasts an astronomical tradition thanks to Filippo Angelitti, an astronomer born in the village in 1856. The festival celebrates this connection to the universe through the Star Tower, an astronomical observatory that hosts exhibitions, workshops and guided observations of the night sky. Among the most anticipated new additions to the 2025 edition of Borgo Universo is “Infinite/Finite,” an installation by Donatella Pinocci featuring celestial projections and cosmic sounds recorded by ESA and NASA, which can be visited at theobservatory or in the hamlet’s Cellars.
Admission to the events is free, and the village is easily accessible by car via the A25 Aielli-Celano highway exit, finding then also an organized shuttle service available. For those who want to fully experience the experience, it is recommended to book guided tours and special activities in advance.
Full schedule: www.borgouniverso.com
Activity reservations: www.borgouniverso.com/sagra-della-scienza/
Email: info@borgouniverso.com
Instagram: @borgouniverso
