The music and culture festival in the Piacenza and Parma Apennines—set against a backdrop of museums, parish churches, monasteries, and castles—celebrates its 25th edition this year with internationally renowned artists and young performers.
Appennino Festival
When: August 2–September 22, 2026
Where: the Piacenza and Parma Apennines
A festival comprising about twenty musical events that blend folk traditions and classical music, showcasing the regions of the provinces of Piacenza and Parma.
Program
Incanti d’appennino(Enchantments of the Apennines)
When: August 2, 5.45 p.m.
Where: Coli, Sella dei Generali Pass
Val Curiasca Choir, Mareto Choir, Eco di Valle Choir, Franco Guglielmetti on accordion, and Carlo Gandolfi on the Emilian piva.
Nuove foglie da antiche radici del Candore(New Leaves from Ancient Roots)
When: August 4, 9.15 p.m.
Where: Piazza del Popolo, Caminata, Upper Tidone Valley
Ensemble Na Fuoia
Andrea da Cortà on mandola, accordion, and bagpipes; Pina Sabatini on vocals and guitar; Annachiara Belli on violin.
Orienti
When: August 5, 9.15 p.m.
Where: Church of Sant’Agata, Rivergaro
Trio Cafè Loti, Nando Citarella on vocals, frame drums, and chitarra battente; Pejman Tadayon on oud, setar, saz, and daf; and Stefano Saletti on bouzouki, vocals, and percussion.
Souvenirs de Paris
When: August 6, 9.15 p.m.
Where: Church of San Martino Vescovo, Mareto, Farini
Gloria Sapio on narration, Andrea Cadauro on guitar, and Nicola Rulli on mandolin and mandola.
Tramonto in Val Perino(Sunset in Val Perino)
When: August 7, 7 p.m.
Where: Church of San Cristoforo Martire, Pillori di Travo
Christoph Hartmann, oboist with the Berliner Philharmoniker, along with students from the Konstknekt Academy in Norway.
Suoni della Val Nure(Sounds of Val Nure)
When: August 8, 5.45 p.m.
Where: Ancient Church of S. Andrea, Castelletto, Vernasca
D’Esperanto Trio with Paolo Simonazzi on the hurdy-gurdy and accordion
Viandanti, santi e cavalieri lungo la Via degli Abati(Wayfarers, Saints, and Knights Along the Via degli Abati)
When: August 9, 5.45 p.m.
Where: Church of San Cristoforo, San Pietro in Val Vona, Borgo Val di Taro (PR)
Concert in collaboration with “Sentieri Sonori dal Po all’Appennino,” featuring Matteo Vignati as narrator and the Bandella delle Quattro Province.
Poesia e musica nella notte di San Lorenzo(Poetry and Music on the Night of San Lorenzo)
When: August 10, 9 p.m.
Where: Terrace of the Church of Pigazzano, Travo
Poetry readings curated by Matteo Marchesini, with musical performances by Max Repetti and the Enrico Fink Quartet.
Tra i rivi – Canti di donne tra Murgia e Salento(Among the Streams—Women’s Songs from Murgia to the Salento)
When: August 12, 6 p.m.
Where: “Tra le Corti” Cultural Center, Pianadelle, Farini
Maria Moramarco Ensemble.
Ruota della fortuna(Wheel of Fortune)
When: August 13, 9.15 p.m.
Where: Castello Anguissola, Travo
Luca Scarlini presents his book * Streghe – storie dannate nell’arte*, with musical performances by the group *Le Rose e le Viole* featuring Maria Moramarco. An evening organised in collaboration with *Serate Letterarie Giana Anguissola*.
Cantami o musa(Sing to Me, Oh Muse)
When: August 18, 5.45 p.m.
Where: Zerba
Strawboys, with Daniele Bicego on Italian and European bagpipes and Francesco Bettoni on guitar.
Tra monti e valli(Among Mountains and Valleys)
When: August 21, 6 p.m.
Where: Church of San Bartolomeo, Ottone
Francesco Zuvadelli on organ, Maddalena Scagnelli on violin and vocals, and Dario Landi on theorbo, piva, and piffero.
Professione: crooner(Profession: Crooner)
When: August 23, 9.15 p.m.
Where: Cloister of the Abbey of San Colombano, Bobbio
Parma Brass Ensemble
Non ti scordar di me(Don’t Forget Me)
When: August 28, 6.30 p.m.
Where: Church of San Martino Vescovo, Mareto, Farini
Rebecca Brusamonti, soprano, and Corrado Pozzoli on piano.
Metamoprfosi d’amore(Metamorphoses of Love)
When: September 6, 5.30 p.m.
Where: Oratory of San Carlo in Fognano, Bobbio
Maurizio Pellegrini as narrator, Adolfo la Volpe on classical guitar, and Enerbia.
Piacenza World—Music from Italy and Around the World in Piacenza
When: September 16, 8.45 p.m.
Where: Piacenza Polytechnic, Former Slaughterhouse Area
Band del Sud, Namritha Nori, Alvise Seggi, Evaggelos Merkouris, and Giada Mancini.
Che si può fare – viaggio musicale nel Seicento europeo (What Can Be Done – A Musical Journey Through 17th-Century Europe)
When: September 18, 9 p.m.
Where: Church of Santa Maria Assunta, Valconasso, Pontenure
Bettina Hofmann on viola da gamba, Luisa Baldassari on harpsichord, Giulio Monguidi on harpsichord, Angelica Antonini on vocals, and Maddalena Scagnelli on violin.
Soffi – Sounds from Five Continents
When: September 19, 5 p.m.
Where: Guatelli Museum, Ozzano Taro, Collecchio (PR)
Mario Crispi on ney, launeddas, diduk, marranzanu, and clarinet.
Trame d’Irlanda(Tales of Ireland)
When: September 20, 6 p.m.
Where: Courtyard and Hall of the Castle, Calendasco
The Willow’s with Stephanie Martin on fiddle
A Long-Awaited Party at the Inn
When: September 22, 9.30 p.m.
Where: Caratta di Gossolengo, I Melograni farmhouse
Remi and Vincent Boniface of Trouveur Valdotèn, violin, accordion, bagpipes, and flutes.