Montecatini Terme Unesco Arts Festival 2026: event programme from 1 to 6 July

From 1 to 6 July 2026, Montecatini Terme will host the Montecatini Terme Unesco Arts Festival, a festival dedicated to music, dance, culture and live performance.

The events will take place in Piazzale Terme Tettuccio, one of the city’s symbolic locations, with a programme that alternates between free events and paid performances. The festival is presented by the Municipality of Montecatini Terme.

Event programme

Wednesday, 1 July 2026 – 9:30 p.m.

Performance by the Ballet School of the Accademia Teatro alla Scala

Directed by Frédéric Olivieri

Free event

Thursday, 2 July 2026 – from 7:30 p.m.

Radio3Scienza Live

Followed by: Concita De Gregorio – “La Cura”

Free event

Friday, 3 July 2026 – 9:30 p.m.

Maggio Musicale Fiorentino – Carmina Burana

Free event

Saturday, 4 July 2026 – 9:30 p.m.

PFM | Doppia Traccia

Paid event organised by Nuovo Teatro Verdi

Sunday, 5 July 2026 – 9:30 p.m.

L’avventura dell’umanità

Free event

Monday, 6 July 2026 – 9:30 p.m.

Tony Hadley

Paid event organised by Nuovo Teatro Verdi

Useful information

Venue: Piazzale Terme 

Tettuccio, Montecatini Terme

Period: 1-6 July 2026

Evening event times: mainly 9:30 p.m.

Admission: some events are free, others require a ticket

For paid performances, online advance sales are available on TicketOne. For confirmation of times, access and ticket availability, it is advisable to consult the official channels of the organisers before the event.

Every year, one of Italy’s longest-running music events returns: the Pistoia Blues Festival.

Since 1980, July in Pistoia has come alive with the music of Italian and international artists. The stage in Piazza del Duomo has welcomed many musicians and true music legends, including Carlos Santana, B.B. King, David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Patti Smith and Lou Reed.

Each edition offers a unique mix of music legends and new talents, turning the city into a lively cultural and musical hub. An unmissable event for anyone who wants to fully experience the energy and magic of music.

The programme of the 45th edition of Pistoia Blues Festival 2026 promises many more surprises.

Saturday, 4 July – Fantastic Negrito and Eric Steckel

Sunday, 5 July – JET

Wednesday, 8 July – The Darkness

Friday, 10 July – Jethro Tull

Storytellers – Singer-songwriter sounds

Thursday, 2 July – Marco Masini

Special events

Friday, 3 July – Il Volo

Monday, 6 July – Enrico Brignano

More information:

☞ https://pistoiablues.com/

Tickets:

☞ https://pistoiablues.com/biglietti/

The Vasari Corridor opens in the evening: sunset visits above Florence from 3 July to 20 November

Florence offers a new special opportunity to experience one of its most fascinating places at a truly evocative time of day: the Vasari Corridor will be open in the evening, at sunset, every Friday from 3 July to 20 November.

An event to mark in your diary if you love art, history and authentic experiences in the heart of the city.

A suspended route between art, history and views

The Vasari Corridor is one of the most famous elevated walkways in the world. It connects the Uffizi Galleries to Palazzo Pitti, crossing the historic centre of Florence and passing over Ponte Vecchio.

It was designed by Giorgio Vasari in 1565 at the request of Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici, with the aim of allowing the grand ducal family to move safely and privately between their private residence at Palazzo Pitti and Palazzo Vecchio.

Today, this extraordinary route is part of the Uffizi Galleries museum complex and has reopened to visitors after major works to improve safety and accessibility.

Evening visits at sunset

From 3 July to 20 November, there will be 21 evening appointments, every Friday, with guided visits from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm.

The experience offers the chance to discover the Vasari Corridor in a different atmosphere, when daylight gives way to the warm colours of sunset and Florence reveals itself from a unique perspective: from above, suspended over the Arno River and Ponte Vecchio.

Along the route, visitors will be able to admire not only the historic structure of the corridor, but also views over the city and the more than fifty Roman busts that now enrich the display.

Useful information

Visits are by reservation only and are organised in groups of up to 25 people.

Period: from 3 July to 20 November

Day: every Friday

Time: from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm

Last admission: 9:50 pm

Meeting point: Uffizi square, Loggia dei Lanzi side

Recommended arrival: at least 10 minutes before the scheduled visit time

Book here

🎶 Serravalle Opera – Grand Puccini Gala 🎶

On Friday, July 4th, 2026, the magic of opera returns to the charming setting of the Rocca di Castruccio in Serravalle Pistoiese with a special evening dedicated to Giacomo Puccini.

Sopranos, tenors, baritone and piano will take the stage for an elegant journey through music, emotion and beauty, with a historical and musical presentation by Maestro Antonio Bellandi.

📍 Serravalle Pistoiese – Rocca di Castruccio

🗓️ July 4th, 2026

⏰ 9:15 PM

Montecatini Terme is preparing to welcome one of the most eagerly awaited musical events of the summer: the Festival of Youth Orchestras, proudly reaching its 27th edition. This extraordinary event attracts enthusiasts from all over Italy and abroad every year and takes place in the evocative setting of the Terme Tettuccio, a symbol of the city and the perfect backdrop for evenings dedicated to great music.

The festival, which has become a regular fixture of the Tuscan summer, brings young talents from all over the world to the stage.

The concerts of the Festival of Youth Orchestras will enliven the evenings in Montecatini until 27 August, offering performances of the highest level with free admission. A unique opportunity for residents and tourists to immerse themselves in an unforgettable cultural experience, dedicated to music and beauty.

The concerts start at 9:00 p.m.

2026 Programme

Tuesday, 7 July 2026 – 9:00 p.m.

Cork Youth Orchestra

Wednesday, 8 July 2026 – 9:00 p.m.

Orchestre Symphonique des étudiants de Louvain, OSEL

Thursday, 9 July 2026 – 9:00 p.m.

Zhongzheng Junior High School Wind Orchestra

Monday, 13 July 2026 – 9:00 p.m.

Koninklijk Harmonieorkest Vooruit Harelbeke

Wednesday, 15 July 2026 – 9:00 p.m.

Pittsburg Youth Philarmonic Orchestra

Wednesday, 22 July 2026 – 9:00 p.m.

Sonora Jounior Sax

Thursday, 30 July 2026 – 9:00 p.m.

Joven Orquesta Filarmónica “Campos Andaluces”

Thursday, 27 August 2026 – 9:00 p.m.

Jugendsinfonieorchester der Musikschule Bochum

The programme may be subject to change. For confirmation of dates, times and access arrangements, it is advisable to consult the official website of the organisation here.

On 4 and 5 July 2026, La Notte d’Isabella returns to Cerreto Guidi, a historical re-enactment dedicated to Isabella de’ Medici and to the atmosphere of the village in the sixteenth century.

For two days, the historic centre is transformed into a Renaissance village, with costumed figures, ancient crafts, historical games, markets, music, dances, travelling performances and taverns. 

The event recalls the festive atmosphere linked to the arrival of Isabella de’ Medici at the Medici Villa of Cerreto Guidi, up to the story of her mysterious death, which took place in Cerreto on 16 July 1576.

What to see during the event

During La Notte d’Isabella, visitors can walk through the streets of the historic centre and meet nobles, commoners, knights, musicians and characters from the period.

The programme includes falconry demonstrations, duels, flag-waving displays, fire shows, Renaissance dances and scenes of everyday life.

One of the most distinctive features of the event is the setting throughout the village: the Medici Villa, the Parish Church of San Leonardo, the Oratory of the Holy Trinity and the Medici Bridges become part of the narrative route, accompanying visitors through history, performance and legend.

Useful information

Dates: Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 July 2026

Place: historic centre of Cerreto Guidi, Florence

Approximate time: from 5:00 p.m. until late evening

This year, open-air cinema returns to the Castello dell'Imperatore in Prato with reduced ticket prices of 3.5 euros for Italian and European films, while the cost for non-European films is 6.5 euros. Screenings start at 9:45 PM. There are 200 numbered seats available, and tickets can be purchased at the box office starting one hour before the film begins.

Here is the program - Movies in Italian:

🎥 Start time: 9:45 PM (box office opens at 8:45 PM)

📅 June 2026

📅 Luglio 2026

Dal 01 Lug 2026 al 16 Lug 2026

Il programma dell'arena estiva al Castello dell'Imperatore dal 1° al 16 luglio 2026. Anche quest'anno con "Cinema revolution" ingresso a 3,5 € per i film italiani ed europei. Per gli altri  intero 6,5 Euro - ridotto 5,5 Euro. Inizio proiezioni ore 21:30. Apertura biglietteria ore 20:30.

PROGRAMMA

Mercoledì 1 luglio -  AMARGA NAVIDAD          ( Dramm. Spagna, 2026, 111’)

di Pedro Almodóvar, con Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Milena Smit.

Elsa affronta una perdita durante le festività natalizie. Vent’anni dopo Raúl, regista e sceneggiatore, scrive la storia di Elsa trasformandola nel suo alter ego, in un intreccio tra realtà e finzione, tra ispirazione e vita, che ne evidenzia lo stretto legame.

Giovedì 2 luglio - MICHAEL          (Biogr. USA, 2026, 127’)

di Antoine Fuqua, con Jaafar Jackson.

La storia del re del pop Michael Jackson in uno spettacolare evento musicale. Dall’infanzia, caratterizzata dai sogni, il talento, l’amore per la musica, ma anche da un padre opprimente,all’ascesa da solista, al successo con Off the Wall, Thriller e Bad.

Venerdì 3 luglio -  SENTIMENTAL VALUE          (Comm/Dramm. Norv/Germ/Dan, 2025, 132’)

di Joachim Trier, con Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård. 

Gustav, celebre regista, fa ritorno nella vita delle sue due figlie dopo molti anni di assenza. L’ingresso nella loro vita di una giovane star di Hollywood risveglierà vecchie ferite e segreti mai sopiti

Oscar miglior film internazionale. Gran Premio della Giuria Festival di Cannes 2025

Sabato 4 luglio - BUEN CAMINO          (Comm. Ita, 2025, 90’)

di Gennaro Nunziante, con Checco Zalone.

Checco Zalone vive la sua vita nel lusso e nell’ostentazione, spendendo e spandendo i soldi del padre, ricco imprenditore. Quando sua figlia parte per percorrere a piedi il Cammino di Santiago, Checco la segue scoprendo un lato di sé che non aveva mai considerato.

Domenica 5 luglio - LE COSE NON DETTE          (Dramm. Ita, 2026, 114’)

di Gabriele Muccino, con Stefano Accorsi, Miriam Leone, Claudio Santamaria.

Carlo ed Elisa partono insieme agli amici in cerca di una pausa. Ma il viaggio, invece di offrire risposte, porta a galla silenzi, desideri inespressi e verità rimaste sospese.

Lunedì 6 luglio - I LUNEDÌ DEL MABUSE: CULT MOVIES

BIANCA                                          (Dramm. Ita, 1984, 95’)

di Nanni Moretti, con Laura Morante, Nanni Moretti.

Michele, giovane professore di matematica, solitario e ossessivo, ha un’attenzione maniacale per i comportamenti delle coppie. Nella nuova scuola dove va ad insegnare, incontra la collega Bianca, con cui tenta una relazione.

Versione restaurata in 4k

Martedì 7 luglio - LE CITTA’ DI PIANURA          (Dramm. Ita/Germ, 2025, 100')

di Francesco Sossai, con Filippo Scotti, Sergio Romano, Pierpaolo Capovilla, Roberto Citran, Andrea Pennacchi. Nel Veneto rurale, due amici di bevute inseguono la leggenda di un tesoro nascosto dal loro compagno Genio. Con loro un giovane architetto in cerca di sé.

Il film è stato premiato con 8 David di Donatello

Mercoledì 8 luglio - CINEMA IN CONCERTO                              Ore 21:15

Concerto-spettacolo in ricordo di Claudio Jozzelli, socio fondatore della Corale San Martino e del Comitato Cittadino Attività Musicali. 

Ingresso libero fino ad esaurimento posti

A cura della Corale San Martino

Giovedì 9 luglio - CINECONCERTO: SCIOPERO!

Di Sergej M. Ejzenstejn (URSS, 1924), sonorizzazione dal vivo di Laura Agnusdei, Jacopo Battaglia, Luca Cavina, Giuseppe Franchellucci, Ramon Moro, Stefano Pilia, Paolo Spaccamonti.

Una produzione Cineteca di Bologna per il Festival “Il Cinema Ritrovato”.

Con il sostegno di Chianti Banca.   Ingresso: posto unico 16 €

Venerdì 10 luglio - NORIMBERGA          (Dramm. USA, 2025, 148’)

di James Vanderbilt, con Russell Crowe, Rami Malek.

Uno psichiatra valuta i leader nazisti prima dei processi di Norimberga, diventando sempre più ossessionato dalla comprensione del male mentre stringe un legame inquietante con Hermann Göring.

Sabato 11 luglio - E’ L’ULTIMA BATTUTA?          (Comm. USA, 2025, 121’)

di Bradley Cooper,  con Will Arnett, Laura Dern, Andra Day, Bradley Cooper.

Quando il matrimonio fra Alex e Tess si sgretola, lui cerca un nuovo scopo nella scena teatrale newyorchese, lei affronta da sola il sacrificio della famiglia. Dovranno confrontarsi con la co-genitorialità e la possibilità di una nuova forma di amore.

Domenica 12 luglio - RENTAL FAMILY – NELLE VITE DEGLI ALTRI          (Comm. Giapp/USA, 2025, 103’)

di HIKARI, con Brendan Fraser, Paolo Andrea Di Pietro, Takehiro Hira.

Philip, attore americano in Giappone, lavora per "Rental Family", offrendo affetto a pagamento. Scoprirà che separarsi dai clienti è la parte più difficile.                                                                         

Lunedì 13 luglio - I LUNEDÌ DEL MABUSE: CULT MOVIES

I PUGNI IN TASCA                          (Dramm. Ita, 1965, 107’)

di Marco Bellocchio, con Paola Pitagora, Lou Castel, Marino Masé.

Il debutto di Marco Bellocchio torna in versione integrale. Uscito nel 1965, ambientato in una provincia ferma e soffocante, racconta una famiglia come luogo di tensione, repressione e violenza non esplicita.

Versione restaurata in 4k

Martedì 14 luglio - CINQUE SECONDI          (Comm.  Ita, 2025, 105’)

di Paolo Virzì, con Valerio Mastandrea, Galatéa Bellugi, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi.

Adriano, un ex avvocato di successo, vive da recluso da quando un tragico evento gli ha spezzato la vita in due. Qualcosa cambia quando nelle vicinanze si accampa un gruppo di ragazzi capitanato dalla volitiva Matilde.

Mercoledì 15 luglio - A CENA CON IL DITTATORE          (Comm. Sp/Fr, 2025, 106’)

di Manuel Gómez Pereira, con Mario Casas, Alberto San Juan.

1939. Dopo la fine della guerra civile spagnola, il generale Franco ordina una cena all'Hotel Palace. Ma l'hotel, che era stato riconvertito in ospedale da campo, non è pronto…

Giovedì 16 luglio - CINEFILANTE: SCIROCCO E IL REGNO DEI VENTI          (Anim. Be/Fran, 2023, 81’)

di Benoît Chieux. Attraverso il loro libro preferito, due sorelline finiscono nel mondo delle correnti d’aria, dove vengono trasformate in gatte e restano intrappolate. Per uscire, dovranno affrontare tempeste, ma soprattutto trovare Scirocco, il re dei venti.

Età consigliata 6+

Venerdì 17 luglio - UNA BATTAGLIA DOPO L’ALTRA          (Dramm/Thr, USA, 2025, 161’)

di Paul Thomas Anderson, con Leonardo Di Caprio, Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro. 

Quando il loro malvagio nemico ricompare dopo 16 anni, un gruppo di ex rivoluzionari si riunisce per salvare la figlia di uno di loro. 

Mymovies Masterpiece 2025.  Vincitore di 6 Oscar.

Sabato 18 luglio - HAMNET – NEL NOME DEL FIGLIO          (Dramm. USA, 2025, 125’)

di Chloé Zhao, con  Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Emily Watson.

La morte del figlio di Shakespeare dal punto di vista della moglie Anne, fonte di dolore e ispirazione per la nascita di "Amleto". 

Oscar 2026 Miglior attrice

Domenica 19 luglio - IL MAESTRO          (Dramm. Ita, 2025, 125’)        

di Andrea Di Stefano, con Pierfrancesco Favino, Tiziano Menichelli.  

Fine anni '80: il giovane tennista Felice, 13 anni, viaggia con l'ex campione Raul tra tornei, sconfitte e bugie, scoprendo la libertà e un legame inatteso.

Lunedì 20 luglio - I LUNEDI’ DEL MABUSE: CULT MOVIES

QUANDO LA MOGLIE E’ IN VACANZA         (Comm. USA, 1955, 105’)

di Billy Wilder, con Marilyn Monroe, Tom Ewell.

Rimasto a Manhattan dopo aver spedito moglie e figlio nel Maine per le vacanze, il direttore di una piccola casa editrice si trova alla prese con una nuova vicina di casa.

Versione restaurata in 4k, in lingua originale con sottotitoli in italiano.

Martedì 21 luglio - NO  OTHER CHOICE – NON C’E’ ALTRA SCELTA          (Comm/Dramm. Corea, 2025, 139')

di Park Chan-wook, con Byung-Hun Lee, Ye-Jin Son.

Un uomo, licenziato senza preavviso, dovrà trovare una soluzione per la sopravvivenza della sua famiglia. Fin dove sarà disposto a spingersi, se non c’è altra scelta?

Mercoledì 22 luglio - NOUVELLE VAGUE          (Comm/Biogr/Dramm. Fran, 2025, 106’)

di Richard Linklater, con Guillaume Marbeck, Zoey Deutch, Aubry Dullin. 

La storia della nascita di un capolavoro, “Fino all’ultimo respiro” di Jean-Luc Godard, e dell'inizio di una rivoluzione, quella della Nouvelle Vague, dei suoi protagonisti, dei sogni e delle tensioni che hanno dato forma a una nuova idea di cinema.

Giovedì 23 luglio - I COLORI DEL TEMPO          (Comm. Fran, 2025, 124’) 

di Cédric Klapisch, con Suzanne Lindon, Abraham Wapler, Julia Piaton, Vincent Macaigne.  

Quattro lontani cugini si ritrovano dopo aver  ereditato una casa abbandonata da anni. Apparentemente estranei tra loro, si ritrovano a condividere luoghi, ricordi e tracce di un passato familiare dimenticato.

Venerdì 24 luglio - L’ATTACHEMENT – LA TENEREZZA              (Dramm. Fran/Be, 2024, 106’ )                                            

di Carine Tardieu, con Pio Marmaï, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi.  

Una donna sulla cinquantina, indipendente e single per scelta, si trova a dover accudire i figli dei vicini di casa. Contro ogni previsione, scoprirà una forma di tenerezza che non aveva mai immaginato di vivere.

Sabato 25 luglio - IL DIAVOLE VESTE PRADA 2          (Comm.  USA, 2026, 119’ )

di David Frankel, con Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway.

La lotta di Miranda Priestly contro Emily Charlton, la sua ex assistente diventata dirigente rivale, mentre competono per gli introiti pubblicitari in un periodo di declino della carta stampata e mentre Miranda si avvicina alla pensione.

Domenica 26 luglio - THE DRAMA – UN SEGRETO E’ PER SEMPRE          (Comm. USA, 2026, 106’)

di Kristoffer Borgli, con Robert Pattinson, Zendaya.

Pochi giorni prima delle nozze, il rapporto di una coppia viene scosso quando uno dei due partner scopre verità inquietanti sull'altro.

Lunedì 27 luglio - MABUSE CINECLUB: CULT MOVIES

IL DESERTO DEI TARTARI          (Dramm. Ita/Fran/Ger, 1976, 150’)

di Valerio Zurlini, con Vittorio Gassman, Helmut Griem, Francisco Rabal, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Giuliano Gemma. Un giovane ufficiale viene mandato in una zona ai confini col deserto. Qui attende con i compagni di potersi misurare con il nemico. Tratto dal romanzo omonimo di Dino Buzzati.

Versione restaurata in 4k.

Martedì 28 luglio - CIME TEMPESTOSE          (Dramm. USA/G.B., 2026, 136’ )    

di Emerald Fennell, con Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi. 

Dal capolavoro di Emily Brontë, una delle storie d’amore più celebri e tormentate della letteratura, ambientata tra le fredde, selvagge e malinconiche brughiere dello Yorkshire. 

Mercoledì 29 luglio - LO STRANIERO          (Dramm. Fran, 2025, 120’)                            

di François Ozon, con Benjamin Voisin, Rebecca Marder. 

Algeri, 1938. Meursault vive apaticamente finché un delitto commesso su una spiaggia sconvolge la sua esistenza, portandolo verso un destino ineluttabile. Tratto dall’omonimo romanzo di Albert Camus.

Giovedì 30 luglio - PRIMAVERA         (Dramm. Ita/Fran, 2025, 110’)

di Damiano Michieletto, con Tecla Insolia, Michele Riondino, Andrea Pennacchi.

Nel Settecento a Venezia, le orfane del'Ospedale della Pietà formano una delle orchestre più rinomate al mondo. La vita di una di loro cambierà quando un nuovo insegnante arriva a sconvolgere l'equilibrio dell'orfanotrofio. 

Il film ha vinto 4 David di Donatello.

Venerdì 31 luglio - MICHAEL          (Biogr. USA, 2026, 127’)

di Antoine Fuqua, con Jaafar Jackson.

La storia del re del pop Michael Jackson in uno spettacolare evento musicale. Dall’infanzia, caratterizzata dai sogni, il talento, l’amore per la musica, ma anche da un padre opprimente,all’ascesa da solista, al successo con Off the Wall, Thriller e Bad.

💰 Ticket prices:

Italian/European films: €3.50 (reduced price)

International films: €6.50 (full price), €5.00 (reduced for Terminale, ARCI, Coop members…)

Open-air cinema in Monsummano in the Parc of Villa Renatico Martini, Via Gragnano 349, Monsummano Terme.

Begin at 9.30 pm

Programm in the picture

The exhibition, hosted in the rooms of Palazzo delle Papesse, a Renaissance residence once belonging to Caterina Piccolomini, sister of Pope Pius II, documents the flourishing production of domestic art that developed in Siena between the 15th and 16th centuries.

Through more than eighty works, furnishings such as marriage chests, wall panels, daybeds, headboards, textile artefacts and household objects will take centre stage in an exhibition route designed to reveal the richness and variety of a figurative culture intended to decorate domestic interiors.

Opening hours: every day from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm.

Thursday from 10:00 am to 9:30 pm.

In the heart of Florence, the historic spaces of Palazzo Medici Riccardi host an exhibition that brings back the elegance and creative energy of the 1920s.

“Firenze Déco. Atmosfere degli anni Venti” (Florence Déco. Atmospheres of the 1920s) is an exhibition that highlights the central role of the city in the spread of Art Déco in Italy and across Europe. Promoted by the Metropolitan City of Florence and organized by Fondazione MUS.E, curated by Lucia Mannini, the exhibition tells the story of an extraordinary decade in which Florence established itself as a refined center for applied arts, fashion, design, and theatre.

The exhibition takes visitors on an immersive journey through ceramics, glass, furniture, jewelry, textiles, garments, and posters, recreating the cultural atmosphere of the 1920s and the dialogue between tradition and international avant-garde.

Among the featured figures are Gio Ponti, Galileo Chini and Thayaht, alongside refined creations loved by high society and objects that reflect the cosmopolitan taste of the era.

🕒 Practical Information

📅 Until: August 25, 2026

📍 Location: Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Florence

⏰ Opening hours: daily 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM (closed on Wednesdays)

From March 7 to July 26, 2026, Palazzo Buontalenti in Pistoia hosts a major exhibition dedicated to Ettore Sottsass, a key figure in 20th-century Italian design.

The exhibition brings together over 1,400 works, including drawings, objects, photographs, and documents, tracing thirty years of research from the post-war period to the 1970s.

The exhibition follows a chronological path: from early artistic experiments, to ceramics created with Bitossi, through to innovative design for Poltronova and the collaboration with Olivetti. Significant space is also dedicated to the turning point of the 1960s, when Sottsass’s work became more symbolic and radical, anticipating the Memphis movement.

📅 Visitor Information

Dates: March 7 – July 26, 2026

Opening hours: Wednesday–Sunday, 10:00 – 19:00

Special openings: Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, April 7 and 25, May 1, June 1 and 2

📍 Venue: Palazzo Buontalenti, via de’ Rossi 7, Pistoia

Also this year, the Lucca Summer Festival, taking place in June and July, will feature internationally renowned artists. For some of them, their performance in Lucca will be their only concert in Italy—an unmissable opportunity!

Lucca Summer Festival 2026 

• Wednesday, 24 June 2026, 9:30 p.m. – Piazza Napoleone Ludovico Einaudi
• Thursday, 25 June 2026, 9:30 p.m. – Piazza Napoleone David Byrne – Who Is The Sky?
• Saturday, 4 July 2026, 9:00 p.m. – Historic Walls Jamiroquai – only Italian date
• Sunday, 5 July 2026, 9:30 p.m. – Piazza Napoleone John Legend – A Night of Songs and Stories
• Tuesday, 7 July 2026, 9:30 p.m. – Piazza Napoleone Alabama Shakes  Special guest: Matt Berninger
• Thursday, 16 July 2026, 9:00 p.m. – Historic Walls Zucchero – Overdose d’Amore Gold
• Friday, 17 July 2026, 9:30 p.m. – Piazza Napoleone  Ronnie Wood and His Band – only Italian date
• Sunday, 19 July 2026, time to be checked on the ticket – Historic Walls Katy Perry Opening act: Dov’è Liana Only Italian date
• Monday, 20 July 2026, 9:00 p.m. – Piazza Napoleone Riccardo Muti conducts the Luigi Cherubini Youth Orchestra, with students from Italian conservatoires
• Tuesday, 21 July 2026, 9:30 p.m. – Piazza Napoleone Marcus Miller – We Want Miles!  Tribute to Miles Davis 
• Saturday, 25 July 2026, 9:00 p.m. – Piazza Napoleone Din Don Down – In Search of (G)od With Mayor Von Frinzius, Paolo Ruffini and Claudia Campolongo
• Tuesday, 28 July 2026, 9:30 p.m. – Piazza Napoleone  Tom Jones – Come Gather Round
• Wednesday, 29 July 2026, 9:30 p.m. – Piazza Napoleone Pooh – La nostra storia Estate

More information: 

☞https://www.luccasummerfestival.it/

From 11 June 2026 until August, a new edition of Ville & Giardini Incantati will take place: the festival that, on summer evenings, brings the great classical music of the ORT to the Medici Villas of the area.

Now in its 10th edition, Ville e Giardini Incantati in Florence is a project by Fondazione ORT, in collaboration with the Ville and Monumental Residences of Florence, directed by architect Federica Bergamini.

The 2026 edition of Ville e Giardini Incantati features 15 concerts in 10 enchanting locations in the Florentine area and beyond — places that come back to life through sound, creating a wonderful encounter between architecture, landscape and music.

The venues of the 2026 edition

Seven Medici Villas and Gardens will host the concerts: Villa della Petraia, Villa di Poggio a Caiano, Villa di Cerreto Guidi, Villa La Magia in Quarrata, Parco di Pratolino, and, making a welcome return this year, the Giardino di Castello and Villa La Ferdinanda in Artimino.

Also included are Forte di Belvedere, Cava Barghetti at Palazzo Mediceo in Seravezza, and, new for 2026, Villa di Poggio Reale in Rufina.

Concert calendar of Ville e Giardini Incantati 2026 in Florence and the surrounding area

Thursday, 11 June 2026 – Villa Medicea di Cerreto Guidi, 9:30 p.m.

Friday, 12 June 2026 – Villa Medicea La Petraia, Florence, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, 13 June 2026 – Parco Mediceo di Pratolino, Vaglia, 6:30 p.m.

Diego Ceretta, conductor

Orchestra della Toscana

Mendelssohn – The Hebrides, overture op. 26

Schubert – Symphony No. 4 D 417, “Tragic”

Opening the programme is Diego Ceretta, principal conductor of the ORT, with a programme that immediately creates a dialogue between nature and form.

Mendelssohn’s overture The Hebrides was born from a direct impression of the Scottish landscape, transformed into sound through a clear and fluid orchestral gesture.

Alongside it, Schubert’s Fourth Symphony, “Tragic”, reveals another kind of tension — more inward-looking — built on sharp contrasts and on writing that already looks beyond Classicism.

Wednesday, 17 June 2026 – Villa Medicea La Ferdinanda, Artimino, 9:30 p.m.

Thursday, 18 June 2026 – Forte di Belvedere, Florence, 9:30 p.m.

Friday, 19 June 2026 – Villa Medicea di Poggio a Caiano, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, 20 June 2026 – Villa Medicea La Petraia, Florence, 9:30 p.m.

Sieva Borzak, conductor

Enrico Ruberti, double bass

Orchestra della Toscana

Beethoven – The Creatures of Prometheus, overture

Hoffmeister – Concerto for double bass and orchestra No. 1

Haydn – Symphony No. 86

The second programme introduces a less usual presence at the centre of the stage: the double bass.

With Sieva Borzak on the podium and Enrico Ruberti as soloist, Hoffmeister’s Concerto restores to the instrument a brilliant and virtuosic dimension, far removed from its usual supporting role.

Around it are two works focused on movement and energy: the overture from Beethoven’s The Creatures of Prometheus and Haydn’s Symphony No. 86, a mature example of balance between formal structure and invention.

Saturday, 27 June 2026 – Villa Medicea La Petraia, Florence, 9:30 p.m.

Tuesday, 30 June 2026 – Villa Medicea di Cerreto Guidi, 9:30 p.m.

Wednesday, 1 July 2026 – Villa Medicea di Poggio a Caiano, 9:30 p.m.

Julio Garcia Vico, conductor

Donato De Sena, trumpet

Orchestra della Toscana

Mendelssohn – Das Märchen von der schönen Melusine, overture

Neruda – Concerto for trumpet and orchestra, transcribed from the horn

Mendelssohn – Symphony No. 4 op. 90, “Italian”

With Julio Garcia Vico, the musical journey moves towards a more narrative and theatrical dimension.

Mendelssohn returns with the overture The Fair Melusine, a musical tale suspended between legend and transformation, while the Trumpet Concerto attributed to Neruda — here entrusted to Donato De Sena — highlights an unexpected vocal quality of the instrument, capable of singing with lightness and momentum.

The programme closes with the “Italian” Symphony, a bright and rhythmic work that conveys a luminous and dynamic idea of travel.

Saturday, 4 July 2026 – Palazzo Mediceo di Seravezza, Cava Barghetti, 7:00 p.m.

Semplicemente Ornella

The ORT Brass & Rhythm Section

Lucia Sargenti, voice

Music by Ornella Vanoni

Arrangements by Demetrio Bonvecchio

Alongside the symphonic programmes, the festival also maintains a distinctive space for more cross-disciplinary projects.

Semplicemente Ornella brings to the Villas a different repertoire, linked to Italian singer-songwriter tradition: Lucia Sargenti’s voice moves through the arrangements of the ORT Brass, supported by a rhythm section made up of piano, electric bass and drums, evoking with elegance a sound world of nuance, memory and storytelling.

Sunday, 12 July 2026 – Garden of the Villa Medicea di Castello, 6:30 p.m.

Sextours Concertants

ORT Sextet

Mozart – Grand Concertante Sextet for string sextet from the Sinfonia Concertante K 364, anonymous 1808 transcription

Tchaikovsky – Souvenir de Florence op. 70, for string sextet

The chamber-music dimension finds a compact form in Sextuors Concertants, where the dialogue between instruments becomes the true centre of the musical discourse.

The sextet transcription of Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante focuses the listener’s attention on a close and transparent interweaving of lines, while Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence broadens the expressive palette, alternating lyrical momentum with structural tension.

Wednesday, 15 July 2026 – Villa Medicea La Magia, Quarrata, 9:30 p.m.

Friday, 17 July 2026 – Villa Medicea La Petraia, Florence, 9:30 p.m.

The ORT Strings

Giacomo Bianchi, violin and concertmaster

Mozart – Eine kleine Nachtmusik

Tchaikovsky – Serenade for Strings op. 48

On one side, the almost nocturnal lightness of Eine kleine Nachtmusik; on the other, Tchaikovsky’s Serenade, which transforms writing for strings into dense and singable material, capable of combining formal elegance with emotional intensity.

Saturday, 1 August 2026 – Villa di Poggio Reale, Rufina, 9:30 p.m.

Michaël Cousteau, conductor

Letizia Bertoldi, trumpet

Orchestra della Toscana

Mozart – La finta giardiniera, overture K 196

Mozart – “Vorrei spiegarvi, oh Dio” K 418

Pasquale Anfossi – Il curioso indiscreto, overture

Mozart – “Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen” from The Magic Flute

Mozart – Symphony No. 36 K 425, “Linz”

In Rufina, at Villa di Poggio Reale, the journey ends with a programme focused on the musical theatre of Mozart and his contemporaries.

Michaël Cousteau conducts the Orchestra della Toscana together with soprano Letizia Bertoldi, moving through overtures and arias that create a dialogue between orchestral brilliance and vocal virtuosity: from the theatrical lightness of La finta giardiniera to the dramatic tension of The Magic Flute.

Information and tickets

Concerts begin at 9:30 p.m.

Parco Mediceo di Pratolino and the Garden of Villa Medicea di Castello: 6:30 p.m.

Palazzo Mediceo di Seravezza – Cava Barghetti: 7:00 p.m.

Concert duration: approximately 60 minutes, with no interval.

Single-seat ticket: €15.00; €12.00 for Unicoop Firenze members, plus any booking fees depending on the purchase channel.

Tickets can be purchased at the box office of Teatro Verdi, Via Ghibellina 97, tel. 055 212320; at Box Office – Ticketone sales points; online on Ticketone; and at the venue before the concert only if not sold out in advance.

For concerts at the Villas of Quarrata, Seravezza and at Forte di Belvedere, admission is free with reservation.

For Forte di Belvedere and Seravezza, reservations are available from 6 June online via Eventbrite or by phone at 055 0681726.

For Quarrata, reservations are available from 1 July by phone at 0573 771500, Monday to Saturday, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

This wonderful Mountain Garden hosts botanical and forestry species typical of the Alto Appennino Pistoiese region: coloured mountain flowers, carnivore and medicinal plants, majestic trees, to be admired accompanied by the gentle murmuring of the Sestaione stream.

Due to the low temperatures and specific micro-climate of the area, this Botanical Garden also includes several Alpine species which have established, in this Apennine section, their southernmost growing limit; an example of this is the red fir (Picea abies), a relic of the last glaciation, which continues to reproduce spontaneously in the nearby Riserva di Campolino.

OPENING HOURS 2026

ABETONE – Forest Botanical Garden

From 27 June to 6 September

Open from Tuesday to Sunday:

9:30 am–12:30 pm and 3:00 pm–6:00 pm

Guided tours:

9:30 am, 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 3:00 pm, 4:00 pm, 5:00 pm

Closed in cas of bad weather

Siena, a tranquil and quiet city during the winter months, changes face with the arrival of summer and the explosion of enthusiasm for the Palio. It is the most important feast in the city, a race of horses in the heart of the historical center, in Piazza del Campo, where ten of the seventeen districts that make up the city challenge one another, from July 2 to August 16, in honor of the Virgin Mary. The award for the winner is a silky painted drape, the Palio, that on July 2 will be dedicated to the Madonna of Provenzano. But the competitive aspect and the race in the field are only the tip of the iceberg which, at its basis, is made up of the work and the activities of the districts (contrade), true soul and pulsating heart of the city during the entire year. In the days of the feast, the atmosphere in the city heats up. On May 29, for the Palio of July, the horses are assigned randomly to the districts that take part in the race. It is the first moment when fortune, the true protagonist of the feast, makes a decisive verdict for the final victory. Even if anything can happen during the Palio, having a good horse raises the possibility for a victory. After the “tratta”, when the horses are assigned, the days

that precede the Palio are made up of rehearsals, one in the morning, one in the evening, when the jockeys try their horses before the decisive run, the evening of July 2. In the districts, during the days of the feast, dinners, songs and moments of gathering animate the streets of the city. Until the day of the Palio when the “historical walk” and the race magically renew this unique appointment through which Siena relives her glorious past.

It is possible to attend the Palio free of charge from inside the Piazza del Campo. We suggest you to reach the Piazza around at least 4.30 pm (unless you want to find a place at the columns, at the border of the track of tuff, which are usually occupied from the morning, especially those close to the Mossa – where the race starts - and Fonte Gaia – the fountain).
Inside of the square you can buy drinks to cool off, but there are no public toilets. We strongly suggest you to provide water and drinks and take at least a hat to protect yourself from the sun. For the large crowd that will reach the square and the heat, we do not recommend  to bring small children to attend the Palio in the Piazza del Campo.
There are also more convenient locations to see the Palio, with entrance fee. To purchase tickets for the tribune or balconies overlooking the square, try contacting the local Tourist Office.

The Palio of Siena is not a horse race. It is not a historical reenactment, nor a sporting competition in the modern sense. It is a dramatic representation of life itself, a concentration of raw, primal emotions: love and hate, joy and disappointment, madness, strategy, violence and luck. A world of its own, centuries old, that has resisted modern change and remains intact.

Twice a year – on July 2nd and August 16th – Siena transforms. Piazza del Campo is covered in tufo, flags wave from windows, and the contrade prepare like armies heading into battle. But here the battle is real, though ritualized, and the enemy is not symbolic. In Siena, hatred is very real. And no one is ashamed of it. The Palio is perhaps the only place where hatred is accepted – even dignified. Rivalries between districts are ancient and passed down from generation to generation. Every contradaiolo knows that their goal is not just to win, but to make sure their enemy loses. In today’s world of political correctness, this seems almost subversive.

The contrade are not just neighborhoods. They are tight-knit, deeply rooted communities that organize the social lives of their members: cultural events, after-school help, social assistance, volunteer groups. You're born into a contrada and remain in it for life. It’s not a choice. And within that bond, powerful relationships form – alliances, betrayals, and shared secrets.

Women, until recently, played a marginal role. Some contrade only gave them full participation rights after 2010. In the Palio’s historic parades, women walk in the back – after men and children. Siena’s traditions make no concessions. Inclusion is not proclaimed; it is negotiated, slowly and with difficulty.

In the Palio, everything has a price: jockeys are hired, alliances are bought, large sums are raised to hinder rival contrade. But unlike the hidden corruption of the outside world, here it’s all in the open. Deals are made under everyone's eyes, even those of the mayor or police. And no one is shocked – it’s part of the game.

What’s most surprising is the importance of luck. The horses, the true game-changers, are drawn by lottery. So is the starting order. It’s not about wealth or power – it’s about chance. And in Siena, luck is not a taboo word – it's celebrated.

Then, there’s the violence – not brutal or chaotic, but ritualized and honorable. Brawls between rival contradaioli – the so-called "fronteggiamenti" – are part of the myth. Everyone joins in: workers, doctors, students, professors. If someone loses a wedding ring during the fight, everything stops to find it – then resumes as before.

In the end, only victory matters. There’s no honor in second place. The loser gets the "purga", a sarcastic humiliation that fuels a burning desire for revenge.

The Palio of Siena is all of this: a celebration of identity, passion, and rivalry. A world frozen in time that forces us to confront the deepest parts of ourselves. And one that reminds us just how alive our ancestral instincts still are, despite the rules of the modern world.

Opera concerts in which at least 2 singers alternate among the most beautiful voices of the national opera scene accompanied on the piano. The most famous opera arias from the repertoire of Italian and international opera are scheduled, as well as the most famous classic Neapolitan songs.

90 minutes of live music with a break during which guests can enjoy a typical sweet of the city.

The concerts will take place every Wednesday from April to October  in the Music Hall of the Grand Hotel Croce di Malta in Montecatini Terme in Via IV Novembre, 18 at 9.15 pm.

Tickets can be booked by calling +39 3518066988 or by sending an email to info@operaconcerto.it even on the day of the concert.

Further information is available on the website

www.thebestofopera.com.

Shops open until midnight, music, and markets: in Pistoia, evening openings return every Thursday in July, with a complete offering aimed at involving residents and tourists.

First Sunday of the month: museums free entrance

It is a very important event involving all the State Museums with specials and free tickets access. Therefore, if you plan to visit Florence, Pisa, Lucca or any other Tuscan town our countless masterpieces without spending one Euro!

For instance in Florence you can visit: the Uffizi Gallery, Academy Museum, Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens, Bargello Museum, Medici Chapels, and many other attractions. All of them free of charge!

List of  State Museums in Tuscany HERE. 

On Sunday, July 5, from 9 AM to 6 PM, Pescia Antiqua returns to Piazza Mazzini and the historic center. This antiques, collectibles, crafts, and vintage market, which enjoys significant public success, will be held in the central Piazza Mazzini, the historic market square of Pescia. As always, it will attract a true army of curious visitors and enthusiasts looking for that special piece or item needed to complete their collection.

You will be able to search for furniture, paintings, coins, toys, stamps, and books: thousands of objects of all kinds, memorabilia steeped in history, telling the stories of those who previously owned them, seeking new owners who will restore them to their former glory.

On this occasion, local restaurants will offer special menus featuring typical dishes of Pescia cuisine, and public parking throughout the city, including those usually requiring payment, will be free.

The famous Antiques Fair of Arezzo is one of the most important and largest antique fairs in Italy, held every first Sunday of the month and the preceding Saturday.

Pictures and paintings, small jewels, ancient and modern furniture, carpets, clocks, silverware, toys, books and vintage prints, collection stamps, musical instruments, gramophones and radios: it is easy to be charmed and indulge in discovering one of the biggest and oldest Italian Antiques Fairs. 

In 1968 a famous antiquarian and collector of Arezzo, Ivan Bruschi, gave birth to this fair which still today fills with its curious bric-a-brac the old town centre, its streets, yards, Vasari Loggia and wonderful Piazza Grande, every first weekend of the month.

For two days the town changes into a multicolor scenery of treasures waiting to be discovered by tourists and collectors: over five hundreds exhibitors from all over Italy meet here with their furniture and objects of all periods and styles, while antiquarians and restorers have multiplied their business, opening their shops during the fair and showing their best items. Experts of antiques and modern antique collecting find here plenty of particular specializations, such as, for instance, scientific tools, Art-Nouveau stained glass windows, Art Deco furnishing.

The Cathedral of Siena contains numerous masterpieces from every epoch. A work that in many respects is exceptional, is the floor, "the most beautiful ... largest and most magnificent ... that ever was made" in the words of Giorgio Vasari, the fruit of a plan that took on concrete form through the centuries, from the XIV century up to the XVIII century. 

The techniques employed to transfer the ideas of the various artists onto the floor are marble intarsia and graffito: the procedure was initially quite simple but gradually attained a surprising degree of perfection: the first depictions were scratched onto slabs of white marble using a chisel and a drill, and the signs then filled with black stucco. This technique is known as "graffito". Then, coloured marble was employed in much the same manner as wood inlaying. This technique is called "marble intarsia".

The 56 intarsia of the floor are still largely in its original condition. As these artworks are quite sensitive, the entire floor is shown only a few weeks a year. Otherwise, the ground is covered and only a few works are visible for the many tourists that visit the Cathedral of Siena. 

Floor uncovering period in 2026: 27 June – 31 July; 18 August – 15 November 2026.

On Thursday, 9 July 2026, Piazza del Duomo in Pistoia will host the first stop of the I LOVE DISCO Summer Tour 2026.

The group will bring its lively 70s Disco Show to the stage: a performance dedicated to 1970s disco music, with rhythm, energy and great hits to dance to under the stars.

The event takes place during Notte Rossa, organised by AVIS Pistoia, as part of the Pistoia Blues Festival. It will be an evening combining music, entertainment and solidarity, promoting important values such as participation, community and the culture of giving.

Useful information

Where: Piazza del Duomo, Pistoia

When: Thursday, 9 July 2026

Time: from 9:00 pm

Admission: free

A perfect event to enjoy a summer evening in Pistoia’s historic centre, with live music and a festive atmosphere.

On July 9, 10, 11 and 12, the traditional Medieval Festival takes place in Monteriggioni, with the traditional early medieval banquet scheduled for the evening of July 9th.

 In this small village, quoted by Dante in the Divine Comedy, a historical reenactment comes to life, focusing on the every day aspects of life during the Middle Ages, through the reconstruction of workshops, atmospheres and typical professions of that historical time period so important for this territory.

Furthermore, within the walls where, sheltered by the towers, the visitors are welcomed by theatre, music, medieval food, and the colours and smells of the time. 

The Monteriggioni Festival provides an opportunity to observe various aspects of medieval life, ranging from military and civilian aspects to the most spectacular ones represented by the performances of acrobats, jugglers, and musicians.

Complete Program here

On June 10 the 2025 edition of the Festa dell'Unicorno (Unicorn Festival), one of the most popular fantasy festival in Italy, will be held in the traditional village of Vinci, in the province of Florence will start. Mask parades, fire shows and medieval dances and music will be the protagonist of the three days festival in Vinci.

Diverse shows and performances will be staged all around the village, divided into nine main thematic areas for the occasion. While walking around the pictoresque streets of Vinci, you will be enchanted by magic dances, medieval games and cosplay. You will be able to immerse yourself in the setting and animations of the Steel Abyss and observe the Amazing Machines in the Steam Valley or try their hand at Medieval Games of the past in the Village of Gnomes and finally immerse yourself in the thrill of the City of Nightmares.

For more information about the tickets and the detailed program of the festival, please visit 

www.festaunicorno.com

(in Italian only)

On the 16th of July a very curious ceremony takes place in Pistoia.

The statue placed on the right side on top of the cathedral that reproduces St. James will be dressed in a red cloak.

This ceremony is linked to an ancient legend that tells that St. James before devoting himself to the spiritual life was a horse broker: he bought horses at the market promising the seller to pay off the debt with the onset of heat, when he would have taken off his coat. To avoid paying, he was found in the month of July wearing a red wool cloak, declaring that "summer was late in coming".

The ceremony will be preceded at 5.30 pm by the historical procession of the city districts, towards the Cathedral.

At 6.30 pm, the red cloak will be placed on the shoulders of the statue of San James by the Fire Brigade.

On the occasion, the horses that will run the Giostra dell’Orso are also blessed. The ceremony, which attracts many Pistoians and tourists every year, is attended by historical figures with traditional clothes and trumpets and drums players.

Montecatini Terme – International Folklore Festival “Meet the Tradition”

From 16 to 20 July 2026

Parade and international folklore performances in the city centre.

Main concert: Friday, 17 July, at 9:00 pm.

Montecarlo Summer Evenings 2026

Events calendar

An opportunity to enjoy the magic of summer evenings together, with art, emotions and shared moments in the heart of Montecarlo.

📍 Montecarlo (LU)

🗓️ From June to August

🎟️ Free admission, unless otherwise stated

ℹ️ For information:

📞 0583 229725

📧 culturaeturismo@comune.montecarlo.lu.it

🌐 Municipality of Montecarlo

Cutigliano Medievale: three days of history, drums, and ancient crafts

On July 17, 18 and 19, 2026, the village of Cutigliano will be transformed into a medieval setting with the much-awaited event “Cutigliano Medievale”, organized by Pro Loco Cutigliano and the Tamburini of Cutigliano. Three immersive days of music, crafts, performances, and flavors that bring the medieval spirit back to life.

Saturday Night Spa

Saturday, July 11, 18 and 25,

from 7:30 PM to midnight

For an evening of pure relaxation, pamper yourself with a soothing bath under the stars in the thermal pool with rejuvenating whirlpools and

reinvigorate yourself with a steam bath in Europe's largest thermal cave at 34°C.

Includes:

Steam bath in natural thermal cave at 34°C (20 minutes)

Bathing under the stars in the 750 sqm thermal pool at 34°C with underwater whirlpools

Bathing in the Bioaquam thermal path at 34°C with rejuvenating whirlpools

Access to the Thermarium area

Access to the "Bioaquam Pavilion" the new covered and heated relaxation area of 310 m2

Lounge music

€35.00 by reservation

Bioaquam Café poolside open with à la carte menu

(payment upon consumption)

For more information, call 

+39 0572/9077992 or email terme@grottagiustispa.com

https://terme.grottagiustispa.com

Puccini Festival 2026 – Torre del Lago

From 10 July to 5 September 2026

The 72nd edition of the Puccini Festival offers operas, concerts and special events in the evocative Gran Teatro all’Aperto Giacomo Puccini, overlooking Lake Massaciuccoli.

The programme includes Puccini’s great masterpieces: Turandot, Tosca, La Bohème, Madama Butterfly and La Fanciulla del West, together with special evenings featuring Jonas Kaufmann, Eleonora Abbagnato and Plácido Domingo.

Here is the 2026 programme of the Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago, taking place at the Gran Teatro all’Aperto Giacomo Puccini and in other venues within the festival complex.

The main programme runs from July to September 2026.

Programme 2026

10 July 2026

Turandot, the Princess with the Heart of Ice

Screening of the documentary film by Alessandro Tofanelli

Venue: Auditorium Caruso

11 July 2026

Rota and Morricone – Cinema in Music

Concert dedicated to great film music

Venue: Gran Teatro all’Aperto Giacomo Puccini

Time: 9:15 pm

12 July 2026

Concert by the Italian Navy Band

Venue: Gran Teatro all’Aperto Giacomo Puccini

Operas

Turandot

New production for the centenary of the opera

Dates: 17 July, 24 July, 1 August, 9 August 2026

Tosca

Dates: 18 July, 31 July, 8 August, 21 August 2026

La Bohème

Dates: 25 July, 6 August, 28 August 2026

Madama Butterfly

Dates: 7 August, 22 August, 4 September 2026

La Fanciulla del West

Dates: 29 August, 5 September 2026

The main operas are all scheduled at the Gran Teatro all’Aperto Giacomo Puccini.

Special events

19 July 2026

Puccini’s Maid

Prose with music

Venue: Auditorium Caruso

22 July 2026

Opera Gala – Tribute to Puccini with Jonas Kaufmann

Venue: Gran Teatro all’Aperto Giacomo Puccini

Time: 9:15 pm

27 July 2026

Eleonora Abbagnato – Puccini

Dance performance

Venue: Gran Teatro all’Aperto Giacomo Puccini

Time: 9:15 pm

11 August 2026

Puccini, Before God

Prose with music

Venue: Auditorium Caruso

30 August 2026

Grand Gala with Plácido Domingo

Zarzuela, Spanish melodies and Neapolitan songs

Venue: Gran Teatro all’Aperto Giacomo Puccini

Time: 9:15 pm

Second among the antique-dealers' market places of Tuscany for the number of its exhibitors and length of life, the Antique market of Lucca can boast of a solid tradition of quality and reliability thanks to professional antiquarians of high prestige who have always been an important presence in town. 

At the third weekend of each month (on Saturday and Sunday), from 8 am to 7 pm, Lucca opens its gates for a joyful event involving a large portion of the historical centre: from Piazza S. Martino, Piazza Antelminelli and Via Del Battistero - the historical antique dealers' street- ‚ to Piazza San Giusto, and Piazza S. Giovanni up to Piazza Bernardini. It is a gorgeous display of colorful stalls offering not only past vestiges of remarkable artistic value, but also traces of souvenirs impressed on a post-card, on a book, on a knick-knack or on an ornament. 

Furniture, clothes, fabrics, paintings, rare components of old instruments, lamps and chandeliers, old working tools, records..... a wide pattern of old or antique objects‚ patiently gathered and collected after explorations which

are getting more and more difficult. All these things speak to both the tourist and the lover, of a world, which has gone, but not willing to be forgotten yet.

Two unforgettable days around the most charming

streets of the town. It is Art facing Art, History meeting History. A really unique occasion to know Lucca better and taste the pleasure of peeping through the stalls in search of something beautiful to take home and - why not?- probably also making a good bargain! 

It is one of the most successful events of Italy.

You will see every kind of theatre, street bands, circus performances, puppeteers, ballad singers, waders, fire eaters, mime artists, jugglers, belly dancers, installations of all kinds and also glimpse of angels and devils. Party and entertainment everywhere and for everyone. 

There will be performances in every little corner for each taste on a short distance one from another in streets, side walks, archways and courtyards almost like in a labyrinth or in a magic box where the party never ends.

Further Information: 

☞ www.mercantiacertaldo.it

The Giostra dell'Orso (the Bear Joust) is a modern version of the ancient Palio race that took place in Pistoia, in Piazza Duomo, from the first half of the thirteenth century, every 25 July for the feast of the patron saint of the city San Jacopo.This event has a long tradition in this little city and it has been suspended only in case of war, internal political disorders or the recent Covid-19 epidemics  in 2020 and 2021. 

Twelve cavaliers take part in this antique joust, 3 for each of the 4 city districts named after the old town gates baring the symbols of the Lion, the Dragon, the Griffon and the Deer. Each district is represented by three “compagnie”, with their own Captain, a flag, a cavalier, a trumpeter and a discrete number of halberdiers, altogether about 300 people who will participate in the parade filling up the streets with the antique colours of the characteristic medieval clothing to end up in the suggestive Piazza del Duomo. The cavaliers will enter the square on the signal of the trumpeters and the sound of the drums followed by the cortege. After having saluted the authorities and the representatives of the districts the cavaliers will take their positions in the archway of the Palazzo Comunale and listen to the herald reading the rules, then the joust is ready to start.

Two by two, the riders gallop with their lance lowered around the special track built around the square, util they reach the target made up of the figures of two bears and every time they hit the target they will be assigned a particular score. Points are awarded each time for hitting the target and at the end the winning district is proclaimed, while the rider who has individually accumulated the greatest number of points obtains the title of “Cavaliere speron d’oro di Pistoia e contado” (Horseman of the Golden Spur of Pistoia and surrounding area) but the great emotions are shared by everyone.

The Giostra dell'Orso takes place in Piazza del Duomo in Pistoia in the evening.

Program of July 25 2026

7 pm - Closing of the Holy Door of the Cathedral of San Zeno

7.15 pm - Historical parade

9 pm - Start of the Bear Joust

Admission: € 20 seats, € 10 standing seats.

For 2026, tickets can be purchased/collected at Via Tomba di Catilina 18, on the following days and times:

16 and 17 July: 9:30 am–12:30 pm and 4:00 pm–7:00 pm

18 July: 9:30 am–12:30 pm

From 20 to 25 July: 9:30 am–12:30 pm and 4:00 pm–7:00 pm

Serravalle Rock 2026: three nights of guitars, history and great names

From July 31 to August 2, 2026, the Rocca di Castruccio in Serravalle Pistoiese will once again become an exceptional stage for the ninth edition of Serravalle Rock. The festival, now a reference point for independent rock lovers, confirms itself as a showcase of quality and experimentation, with a lineup that blends energy, talent and vision.

On July 29 until August 2 the Effetto Venezia is back, the usual kermis has been enlivening the splendid district of Nuova Venezia (or more simply La Venezia) of Livorno since 1986. It is difficult to set out this “hotchpotch” of events that includes theatrical and musical performances of any type, with the guitti (strolling players) trying to draw in the passers-by, exhibitions of artists, some famous, other less, games and many other indoor and outdoor initiatives involving the whole eighteenth-century district (partially destroyed during the Second World War), with its typical canals, open to speedboats, and its “campielli”, the vaulted bridges and palaces, many of which are open to the public for the occasion.

There will be also many markets of antique and modern collectibles, many for charity purposes. It is really impossible to sum up the countless events scheduled. It is also impossible not to find something we like: theatre, street theatre, folklore, classical music, jazz, rock, markets of any type, tasting, sea contests, and fireworks which, the last night, will explode in the stunning setting of the Medicean Port…And if you are not interested in anything of all this, it will be a one-off show to walk and dive into the atmosphere of this little Venice of the Tyrrhenian Sea, which in August seems to celebrate its off-season Carnival….

Further information on

☞ www.effettovenezia.it