Culture

Theatre, music and poetry are the cultural interests that most appeal to the people in the town and over the years, many associations have been active to keep them alive. In the past, Tolfa had many halls that were used as theatres and numerous theatre groups. (See the historic photograph of the Philodrama Society of 1920). Today, even if the town lacks a theatre, the Compagnia del Barsolo drama group keeps this tradition alive with presentations during the summer in the open-air amphitheatre of the Town Hall gardens, and by participating in theatrical events in nearby towns during the winter.

The Giuseppe Verdi musical band (www.bandatolfa.it) was founded in 1866 under the name of Concerto Musicale. Over the years it has brought many of the town’s inhabitants into the world of music, and its performers have given life to other musical groups that have gladdened the life of the town on a wide variety of occasions. Very important for the musical culture of the town is also the polyphonic choir, I cantori di Tolfa, which was started in 1976 thanks to the efforts of some musical and choral enthusiasts. At the moment it has 24 members and it sings exclusively a cappella. In addition to performing in many towns in Lazio, it has also sung for the Holy Father in St. Peter’s Basilica. Beginning in the 1960s, several pop and rock groups became active, and the L.S.D.A. and the Echoes are still performing.

Extempore poetry in octave rhyme derives from the old tradition of singing epic poems, and still today in Tolfa there are old peasants who remember whole chapters of them. Extempore poetry was a feature in the hostelries of the past when a customer would throw out some verses to which another poet customer would have to reply, off the cuff, if he were not to lose face. Later, challenges between extempore poets became events during popular festivities. The Cultural associations Bartolomeo  Battilocchio and Giancomo  Belloni bring together Tolfa’s numerous poets.