Astragali was established in Lecce in 1981 with the purpose of making theatre productions and training, of giving life to a place for confrontation and practices, to develop projects and relationships. In 1985 it receives the support of the Italian Ministry of Culture and enters the regional and national theatrical circuits.

Since 2012 it is the Italian seat of International Theatre Institute of UNESCO. It is member of Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue between Cultures.


A theatrical place, as theatre legends often tell, is above all a sort of station in mainland where many people arrive, many people leave and someone remains.