The town has fewer than 400 residents and seems to be on track for complete abandonment. To breathe life back into the waning community, Civitacampomarano has been inviting artists from around the world to participate in an annual street art festival.

The idea started back in 2014, when a local named Ylenia Carelli sent an email to Italian street artist Alice Pasquini asking her to come paint in Civitacampomarano and bring some color to the town. Not only was Pasquini willing to do so, but it so happened that her grandfather hailed from the town and was its beloved doctor.