Badia a Settimo Vernacular Theatre Festival

A popular tradition in the heart of the Piana

The Vernacular Theatre Festival is one of the most deeply rooted summer events in Badia a Settimo, a district of the municipality of Scandicci, in the province of Florence, Tuscany. For nearly thirty years, the Casa del Popolo Vittorio Masiani—an ARCI club founded in 1954 and the beating heart of social life in the Piana di Settimo—has dedicated part of its summer season to dialect theatre, welcoming local amateur companies to its stage.

What is vernacular theatre?

The vernacular is the living language of Florence and its surroundings: the language of quick wit, sharp yet affectionate idioms, and comedy born from everyday life. These dialect comedies stage family misunderstandings, husbands and wives dealing with daily routines, and village tales told with good-natured irony. It is theatre created by enthusiasts for the local public, who rediscover their own linguistic and cultural roots on stage.

The featured companies

The stage at Badia a Settimo hosts some of the most renowned amateur dramatic companies in the Florence area, such as L'Antica Fraschetta Filodrammatica, La Ginestra, La Firenze Ridanciana, and Infabula. Each evening offers a different show, a hilarious comedy that draws crowds of locals and fans of Tuscan theatrical tradition alike.

Six Wednesdays of theatre and community

The festival spans six weekly appointments, always held on Wednesday evenings. More than just a theatrical programme, it is a moment of gathering: before and after the shows, the club remains a meeting place where people can chat and enjoy a drink together. The project was born specifically to bring people of all ages closer to the theatre and to offer social opportunities to a neighbourhood that has made the Casa del Popolo its primary reference point.

Part of Scandicci Open City

The Vernacular Theatre Festival is included in the rich summer programme of Scandicci Open City, the season that spreads over 130 events—including theatre, music, cinema, dance, and talks—across the city from June to September. Within this programme, the Badia a Settimo event represents its most popular and dialect-focused soul, attracting a loyal audience every year.