In January, Pontremoli becomes the stage for the Disfida dei Falò (Challenge of the Bonfires), born from an ancient rivalry between the parish of San Nicolò and that of San Geminiano. The competition, which enlivens the entire town and whose origins are lost in time, begins with the parish of San Nicolò and its bonfire, lit on January 17th on the banks of the Magra River. The event continues with the bonfire of the parish of San Geminiano, the town’s patron saint, set alight every year on January 31st under the Cresa Bridge, beside the Verde stream.

The uniqueness of the event lies in the fact that the two groups work for months in the woods to gather the right bundles of dry grass to burn on the fateful day, creating a very evocative spectacle that lights up the dark winter sky. Smaller, but no less important, is the bonfire of Sant’Ilario, lit beside the church of the same name on January 13th.

The Festival of Creativity celebrates local ingenuity, craftsmanship, and manual skills, promoting creative expression as a source of health, well-being, and community spirit. During the festival days, workshops, exhibitions, debates, and theater performances are organized, involving local artisans and associations. The goal is to enhance traditional craftsmanship and stimulate creativity, providing an opportunity for learning and cultural sharing.

The event is organized by the Pro Loco Borgo del Piagnaro “Mani e Menti” (Hands and Minds).

Baroque Pontremoli is the spring event dedicated to the baroque artistic heritage of the town of Pontremoli. It is a unique opportunity to explore churches, palaces, and villas that were decorated and furnished during the “Golden Century” of Pontremolese art. The event takes place over two days of special openings, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the beauty of Pontremoli’s historic center and its surroundings.

The initiative promotes local culture and involves young generations through the training of students who then become ambassadors of the local heritage.

Event organized by Sigeric – www.pontremolibarocca.it

Every year, in the second half of April, the historic center of Pontremoli is filled with enchanting colors and scents. For the past thirty years, the town has welcomed the spring season with a fair dedicated to flowers and garden plants, which fills the streets of the historic center with dozens of stalls set up from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM, between Piazza Duomo, Piazza della Repubblica, and Via Cavour, much to the delight of enthusiasts and many “green thumbs.”

The Premio Bancarellino is a prestigious literary award dedicated to children’s fiction, established in Pontremoli in 1958 as an extension of the famous Premio Bancarella. Every year, hundreds of students from secondary schools across Italy participate as jurors, reading and voting for the five finalist books. The final ceremony takes place in a festive atmosphere in Piazza della Repubblica, with the participation of the authors and an enthusiastic popular jury of young readers.

Event organized by the Fondazione Città del Libro – premiobancarella.it

The Festival is an event dedicated to the connection between Theatre, Mediation, and Restorative Justice. Every year, the festival offers performances, round tables, and dialogues that bring together experts from various fields, including theater directors, judges, mediators, and academics. The event focuses on themes related to restorative justice, exploring the dramatic dimension of experiences involving minors who are victims or perpetrators of crimes. The festival fosters the exchange of different perspectives, highlighting how theatre can be a transformative tool for repair and for designing actions that help overcome conflict.

Event organized by the Teatro del Pratello – teatrodelpratello.it

An annual mountain bike competition held in Pontremoli, offering participants the opportunity to challenge themselves on routes set in the pristine nature of Lunigiana, crossing the trails of the Via Francigena and some breathtaking landscapes of the Tusco-Emilian Apennine National Park. Typically, two tracks are available: one longer and more challenging, and one shorter and simpler. The event is open to cyclists of all levels and provides an opportunity to discover the scenic and cultural beauties of the region.

Event organized by ASD Goodbike Pontremoli – www.goodbikepontremoli.it

A fun and hilarious food and wine tour designed to discover the gastronomic and culinary traditions of Pontremoli. In the second half of May, for two consecutive days, visitors can learn about, taste, and savor many local products while strolling through the medieval streets, shops, bars, and typical trattorias of Pontremoli. The event, which began almost as a game in 2015, has become one of the unmissable spring highlights with each passing edition! The symbol color of this festival? Yellow, the color of the dough for tordelli, known in the local Pontremolese dialect as “turdèi,” from which the event takes its name.

Event organized by Farfalle in Cammino, Pro Loco, and the Municipality of Pontremoli – www.tourday.it

In June, a non-competitive walking event takes place, retracing a section of the historic Via Francigena, with the finish in the historic center of Pontremoli. The event, designed for families and trekking enthusiasts, allows participants to immerse themselves in nature and discover fascinating locations along a path built through mule tracks, ridgelines, streams, medieval bridges, and breathtaking landscapes. Three routes of varying lengths and difficulty levels are available: the longest route starts from the Ostello Cisa, the medium route from the Passo della Cisa, and the short route from Loc. Casalina.

The event is organized by ASD Goodbike Pontremoli – www.pontremolifhm.it

Every July 2nd, Pontremoli celebrates the Madonna del Popolo with a grand procession that winds through the entire town, followed by the unmissable concert of the Pontremoli City Band. On this symbolic date, the town remembers the vow made to the Madonna by the people of Pontremoli in 1622, asking her to drive away the plague that had struck the town. The plague was eradicated, but when it returned in 1633, the citizens reinforced their vow, promising to build a “magnificent, noble, and as large as possible temple for the people.” This led to the creation of the Concattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta, or the Duomo of Pontremoli, built solely through the contributions of the town’s citizens, both wealthy and less affluent.

Since 1953, the city of Pontremoli has hosted the Premio Bancarella, one of Italy’s most prestigious literary awards. The prize was established in memory of those booksellers who, since the 1800s, traveled from village to village with baskets of books on their backs, bringing reading to every corner of the country. Booksellers are, in fact, the only judges of the award. The first edition, won by The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, was held at Villa Dosi Delfini, but from the following year (and still today), the award ceremony takes place in Piazza della Repubblica, which is set up for the occasion. Over the years, the Premio Bancarella has been joined by the Premio Bancarellino, the Premio Bancarella Sport, and the Premio Bancarella della Cucina.

Event organized by the Fondazione Città del Libro – premiobancarella.it

The Premio Bancarella Sport, established in 1964 in Pontremoli as an extension of the Premio Bancarella, is a prestigious award dedicated to sports literature. Created by a group of enthusiasts, the award aims to celebrate stories of sport told by journalists, athletes, and writers. With a distinguished list of past winners, the Bancarella Sport is now one of the most prominent awards in the Italian sports literary scene. Each year, the award ceremony brings together great champions and personalities from the world of sports.

Event organized by the Fondazione Città del Libro – premiobancarella.it

The Festival della Scienza della Lunigiana is an event dedicated to science communication, held every summer in Arzengio, a district of Pontremoli. The festival features meetings, conferences, and activities that make science accessible to everyone. Each year, experts and researchers address highly relevant topics, ranging from sustainability to astrophysics, climate change to technology. The festival’s aim is to promote scientific knowledge as a tool for cultural growth and environmental awareness.

Event organized by Farmacista della Parola – www.festivaldellascienzalunigiana.com

Salotto d’Europa is a prestigious summer cultural event held annually in Pontremoli, in the picturesque setting of Piazza della Repubblica. Created in 2004 by lawyer Alfredo Bassioni, the event hosts meetings with prominent figures from Italian journalism, culture, politics, and entertainment. Now a must-attend event of the Pontremoli summer, it offers the public the opportunity to participate in debates and presentations on current issues and topics of general interest.

Every year, at the end of August, the unmissable historical reenactment Medievalis takes Pontremoli back to the Middle Ages, celebrating the arrival of Emperor Frederick II in 1226 and the granting of full jurisdiction to the city. A journey into the past that attracts thousands of visitors every year, blending culture, tradition, and entertainment. During the days of Medievalis, the historic center and the Piagnaro Castle are festively adorned and come alive with costume parades, flag performances, music, dances, and historical markets. Finally, on the last evening, the Disfida di Cacciaguerra takes place—a thrilling tournament between the three town districts, inspired by the ancient division of the village: Summoborgo, Imooborgo, and the Contado.

Event organized by the Compagnia del Piagnaro – www.medievalis.eu

Pontremoli celebrates the end of summer with a lively non-competitive race held annually, transforming the streets inside and outside the historic center into an explosion of colors and joy. Participants of all ages run along a route where they pass through several “color zones,” where they are showered with colored powders by the staff, creating a festive and engaging atmosphere!

Event organized by the Pro Loco and the Municipality of Pontremoli – www.facebook.com/ColorInCorsa

The Sundays in October come alive with the Castagnata in the gardens of the Teatro della Rosa. The event celebrates autumn and the typical flavors of Lunigiana, offering visitors the chance to taste chestnuts and related specialties, such as roasted chestnuts, fritters, and chestnut flour-based desserts.

Event organized by the Pro Loco and the Municipality of Pontremoli.

The Premio Bancarella della Cucina is a literary award established in 2006 as a derivative of the Premio Bancarella, aimed at promoting Italian gastronomic traditions. Each year, the award celebrates authors who contribute to enhancing culinary culture through literary works that explore the history, traditions, and gastronomic innovations of our country.

Event organized by the Fondazione Città del Libro – premiobancarella.it

Every year, during the Christmas period, the Presepe Vivente di San Francesco is reenacted at the stunning Castello del Piagnaro. This event recreates the first nativity scene staged by Saint Francis of Assisi. Numerous actors take visitors back in time to the manger in Gubbio, through the recreation of the trades and daily life from the time of the saint.

Event organized by the Pro Loco and Municipality of Pontremoli – www.facebook.com/presepesanfrancescopontremoli