Attraverso Festival - Franco Cardini 'Islam and its influence on European culture'

Franco Cardini in Gavi for Attraverso Festival

Among the most anticipated events of the 2026 edition of Attraverso Festival is the meeting with historian Franco Cardini, scheduled in Gavi, an elegant village in lower Piedmont in the province of Alessandria, world-famous for its white wine. On Friday, September 18, 2026, starting at 6:00 PM, the monumental Fort of Gavi hosts the lecture 'Islam and its influence on European culture from the Middle Ages to today', an evening dedicated to thought and history in one of the most fascinating settings in the region.

The theme: Islam and Europe, a shared history

Franco Cardini, one of the most authoritative Italian medievalists and a profound expert on the relations between the West and the Islamic world, guides the audience on a journey through centuries of complex relationships: commercial and scientific exchanges, conflicts and crusades, but also mutual influences in philosophy, art, mathematics, and daily life. A dialogue that has never truly been interrupted and has helped shape European culture as we know it. The lecture thus offers a historical lens to better understand the present, far from simplifications and stereotypes.

Attraverso Festival: art, landscape, and culture

The Gavi meeting is part of Attraverso Festival, a widespread cultural event that runs from July 13 to September 19, 2026, across the territories of southern Piedmont recognized as UNESCO World Heritage sites: Langhe, Roero, Monferrato, and the Piedmontese Apennines. With dozens of events distributed across the provinces of Alessandria, Asti, and Cuneo, the festival offers monologues, recitals, civic storytelling, meetings with writers and scholars, and concerts hosted in squares, parks, wineries, and historical complexes.

The event is a project by the Cultural Association Hiroshima Mon Amour ETS and Produzioni Fuorivia, under the artistic direction of Paola Farinetti and Simona Ressico, and stands out for its choice to combine great names of Italian culture with locations of strong landscape identity.

The Fort of Gavi

Choosing the Fort of Gavi as a stage means combining the quality of the festival's meetings with the charm of a place steeped in history. The fortress, perched above the village and managed by the Ministry of Culture, dominates the Lemme stream valley and represents one of the most imposing examples of military architecture in Piedmont. Its position, guarding the ancient salt road between Genoa and the Po Valley, makes it an ideal setting for a conference dedicated to the encounters between Mediterranean civilizations.

Admission and booking

Admission to the conference is free. Given the venue's capacity, booking is recommended through the official Attraverso Festival channels, where updates and links dedicated to individual events are published.