The "Agerola on the Paths of the Gods" festival kicks off on the Amalfi Coast.

Agerola, a natural balcony suspended between sky and sea, is preparing to host Giò Di Tonno, one of the most refined and accomplished artists on the Italian scene. Tonight, " Agerola sui Sentieri degli Dei," the festival on the upper Amalfi Coast, which continues until September 14th, will light up the Belvedere Punta Corona with the presence of the Abruzzo-born artist, whose career spans music, theater, and cultural engagement. Giò Di Tonno has built a solid and multifaceted artistic career, starting with piano lessons at age 8 and rising to prominence with internationally successful musicals such as Notre Dame de Paris, in which he played Quasimodo for over 1,000 performances. Winner of the 2008 Sanremo Festival with Colpo di fulmine and his triumph in the second edition of “Tale e Quale Show” on Rai Uno, he then talentedly crossed the territories of theatre, pop and acting with memorable roles in Jekyll & Hyde, The Betrothed, Peter Pan – The Musical, up to the recent creation of the pop opera The Three Musketeers (2024), for which he also wrote the music.

In Agerola, Di Tonno will perform the recital "Singers in Love," written with Alessandro Di Zio, a love story from beginning to end through the words and music of some of Italy's greatest singer-songwriters, each with their own unmistakable style and vision of love. The artist will accompany himself on piano, joined by Fabrizio Mandolini on saxophone, on an intimate and engaging journey into the boundless universe of love songs. The festival, promoted by the Municipality with the support of the Campania Region and the Metropolitan City of Naples, and in collaboration with Rai Radio Tutta Italiana and Rai Isoradio as official media partners, with free admission, continues on August 15th with Monte Tre Calli in L'alba Magica , a show that will wait for sunrise from 5:00 a.m. The evening shows, starting at 9:00 p.m., on August 18th include Rondine in "Prendeteci Sul Serio" and Chiara Galiazzo in "Allegria Bugiarda"; on August 19th , Grazia Di Michele in "Le donne e la vita"; and on August 20th, the Agerola Lifetime Achievement Award will feature a live performance by Fausto Leali hosted by Gianmaurizio Foderaro. Also on August 21st, Erri De Luca will perform the recital "Andare fuori tema." The concerts will take place in two prestigious locations: Parco Colonia Montana (1,300 seats) and Belvedere Punta Corona (300 seats). The theater, however, is housed in a new location, a new amphitheater that will be inaugurated in a green area adjacent to the Marisa Cuomo Winery.

Nestled at 600 meters above sea level, between the Gulf of Naples and the Amalfi Coast, Agerola is a natural balcony suspended between sky and sea, a place seemingly sculpted by the hand of the gods to combine the enchantment of the landscape with the authenticity of the Mediterranean soul. An ancient village nestled among the Lattari Mountains, Agerola represents the beating heart of the Upper Amalfi Coast: a territory that has preserved its rural traditions, its vocation for hospitality, and a vibrant and deeply rooted cultural heritage. Walking through its narrow streets is like traversing centuries of history, mingling with the scent of wood-fired bread, the silence of the chestnut groves, and the distant sound of the sea. But it is on its paths that the wonder is fulfilled: panoramic routes that seem suspended in the air, such as the famous Path of the Gods, which leads from Agerola to Positano, offering dizzying views of the coast and opening the soul to a poignant and unique beauty. It's a place where time slows down, where nature becomes a daily spectacle, and every sunset is an open-air work of art. And it is precisely in this setting that one of Italy's most beloved and enduring cultural festivals comes to life each summer: an event that blends live performances with the profound breath of the region, transforming the beauty of the landscape into a natural stage for music, theater, and poetry. The theme chosen for 2025 is "Paths of Beauty," an invitation to explore—physically and symbolically—paths capable of reconnecting humanity with wonder, inspiration, and depth. In a world marked by uncertainty, the Festival revitalizes beauty as a cultural and spiritual act of resistance. Rai Radio Tutta Italiana and Rai Isoradio cover the festival—organized by Produzione Palco Reale—with live broadcasts, links, and exclusive content, recounting the region and its stories through the voices of its protagonists. The festival also represents a social commitment and confirms its partnership with the HHT Italia association, which brings together patients with Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT), their families, supporters, and clinicians, and works throughout the country to raise awareness of this often silent disease. "The Festival is a great dream that has been ongoing since 2011 and grows with each edition. Today, we renew our ambition to host cultural events in an area renowned for tourism," said Agerola Mayor Tommaso Naclerio. " We renew the excitement of writing a new chapter in this beautiful story, and we consolidate our pride in recognizing the national reach of the Sui Sentieri degli Dei Festival. Every year, hundreds of thousands of visitors and distinguished guests, including musicians and entertainers, choose our venues, stages where culture, art, and landscape are enhanced and blended. We pay fitting tribute to the historical memory of Cilea Di Giacomo, Bracco, and Saetta, who had strong ties to Agerola and who drew inspiration from Agerola for their works." "We are proud to renew this fruitful collaboration for the second year," stated Rai Isoradio Director Alessandra Ferraro, "to raise awareness of the Festival and Agerola by telling the story of the area and its stories through the voices of the protagonists with interviews, live broadcasts, and digital content. A brand new program is the 'Isoradio on Stage' program, hosted by Gianmaurizio Foderaro, featuring the artists live every day between 6:00 and 7:00 PM, with a backstage preview of music and lyrics, a preview of the evening."