Asciano Suono Festival
Concerts scattered across the Crete Senesi landscape
About Asciano Suono
A festival that makes the Crete Senesi resonate
The Asciano Suono Festival is one of the most evocative musical experiences in Tuscany: not just a simple concert lineup, but a genuine immersive cultural project that puts sound in dialogue with the landscape. The setting is the unmistakable Crete Senesi, the clay hills, badlands, and rolling expanses that surround the town of Asciano, in the province of Siena. Here, music leaves the theaters and spreads through villages, churches, squares, farmhouses, and natural spaces, transforming the territory itself into an integral part of the listening experience.
The 2026 theme: "The Sound of Light"
The fifth edition, scheduled from July 15th to 19th, 2026, revolves around the theme "The Sound of Light." The festival seeks that frequency capable of pointing the way and uniting people through music in a shared, sensory experience. The events are spread throughout the day—at dawn, sunset, and in the evening—inviting the public to experience music at the moments when light transforms the Crete landscape.
Artistic direction by a master
Artistic guidance is entrusted to pianist and composer Cesare Picco, who curates the program and performs himself. The festival spans diverse genres and languages: from saxophone quartets to jazz, from the tango of Astor Piazzolla to Japanese Taiko drums, and from singer-songwriter music to solo piano. A common thread unites this variety: the idea that listening is a collective act and that sound can create community.
Villages and festival venues
Concerts touch upon some of the most characteristic locations in the Asciano area: the hamlet of Arbia, the spectacular village of Chiusure overlooking the clay hills, the churchyard of the Basilica of Sant'Agata in the historic center, and farmhouses nestled in the hills. The grand finale is held at the Anfiteatro delle Crete, an open-air natural space in the Leonina area dedicated to music and listening, where the stage merges with the Sienese horizon.
A legacy to cherish
The 2026 edition is dedicated to the memory of Monica Malavasi, the festival's founder, whose vision the event continues to carry forward. Promoted with the support of the Italian Philharmonic Orchestra and in collaboration with local entities such as Siena Jazz and the Province of Siena, the Asciano Suono Festival confirms itself as a summer highlight capable of uniting great music, landscape, and Tuscan identity.
Asciano Suono — edition 2026
The 2026 edition, the fifth, carries the theme "The Sound of Light" and features concerts at dawn, sunset, and in the evening throughout the Asciano (Siena) area. Artistic direction is by Cesare Picco; events in villages and churches are free, while the final concert on July 19th at the Anfiteatro delle Crete is a ticketed event. This edition is dedicated to the memory of Monica Malavasi, the festival's founder.
Programme Asciano Suono 2026
Tuesday, July 15 — Arbia, Piazza della Repubblica
- 9:30 PM — Saxofollia in Concert: the quartet formed by Fabrizio Benevelli (soprano sax), Lorenzo Simoni (alto sax), Marco Ferri (tenor sax), and Giovanni Contri (baritone sax) reinterprets masterpieces by Puccini, Morricone, Cole Porter, and Richard Galliano. Free admission.
Wednesday, July 16 — Village of Chiusure
- from 8:00 PM — Jazz Night with Carlo Ponte (trumpet), Antonio Senerchia (guitar), Francesco Calchetti (drums), and Lorenzo Piccini (electric bass), in collaboration with Siena Jazz and the Province of Siena. Free admission.
Thursday, July 17 — Asciano
- 7:15 PM — Tango Stories at Sunset at Agriturismo Poggio d'Arno: Alessandra Ziveri (harp) and Andrea Coruzzi (bandoneon and accordion) perform Nuevo Tango and masterpieces by Astor Piazzolla. Free admission.
- 9:30 PM — Fudendaiko · Playing Taiko at the churchyard of the Basilica of Sant'Agata: performance of Japanese drums from the Fudenji Temple. Free admission.
- 10:00 PM — Migrantes · piano and oud, churchyard of the Basilica of Sant'Agata, with Andrea Manzoni (piano) and Mauro Sigura (oud). Free admission.
Friday, July 18 — Asciano
- 7:15 PM — New Lights · Talents in concert at Podere Casa Insieme: Martin Zamorano (piano), Sebastian Sarre (trumpet), Jeanne Lavalle (bassoon), and Thembinkosi Mavimbela (double bass), in collaboration with the Franz Wirth Foundation. Free admission.
- 9:30 PM — Summer Songbook at the churchyard of the Basilica of Sant'Agata: Cesare Picco on solo piano. Free admission.
Saturday, July 19 — Anfiteatro delle Crete
- Grand finale "All the lights of the world": the voice of Paola Turci, Cesare Picco on piano, Sufi dance by Nevio Vitali, and the string quartet of the Italian Philharmonic Orchestra, at sunset, featuring original music and echoes of Franco Battiato and Fabrizio De André. Ticketed concert.
Highlights Asciano Suono 2026
Prices Asciano Suono 2026
Practical information — Asciano Suono
Getting there
Asciano is located about 30 km southeast of Siena, in the heart of the Crete Senesi. By car, it can be reached via the SR438 (Lauretana) or the SP451; by train, take the Siena–Grosseto line and get off at the Asciano stop. Individual events take place in various locations within the municipality (Arbia, Chiusure, the historic center, farmhouses, and the Anfiteatro delle Crete in the Leonina area): it is advisable to check each address on the official program.
Tickets
Events from July 15th to 18th are free to attend. The final concert on July 19th at the Anfiteatro delle Crete is a ticketed event, with tickets available for purchase online at oooh.events.
Tips
Many events are held outdoors at sunset: we recommend comfortable clothing and a light jacket for the evening. For the final concert, arrive early to enjoy the landscape at sunset.
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Where does it take place — Asciano Suono
Anfiteatro delle Crete
Località Montefiori 28, 53041 Asciano