Bassa Centrico Festival

A distributed festival between the Po and the Gonzaga Lands

The Bassa Centrico Festival was born in 2026 as a large distributed review designed to unite and tell the story of the eight municipalities of the Bassa Reggiana Union — Luzzara, Guastalla, Gualtieri, Boretto, Brescello, Poviglio, Novellara, and Reggiolo — on a single open-air stage. Promoted by local administrations together with the IAT Bassa Reggiana tourist office, the festival enhances the so-called Lands of the Po and the Gonzaga through guided tours, exhibitions, river cruises, theater, excursions, and food and wine experiences.

Brescello, the village of Don Camillo and Peppone

In the Municipality of Brescello, in the province of Reggio Emilia, the festival revolves around the village's most famous identity: that of the film set for Giovannino Guareschi's "Mondo Piccolo". It was here, along the banks of the great river, that the films with Don Camillo and Peppone were shot, and the historic center still preserves the atmosphere of that popular story that became a legend. However, Brescello has much older roots: it was the ancient Roman Brixellum, an important port and road junction on the way to the Po.

The Museum Circuit

Throughout the duration of the event, visitors can participate in guided tours of the entire Brescello Museums circuit, an immersive journey that includes:

• the very famous Museum of Peppone and Don Camillo, with memorabilia, costumes, and souvenirs from the films;
• the "Brescello and Guareschi" exhibition space, dedicated to the writer and the birth of "Mondo Piccolo";
• the Archaeological Museum, which preserves the Roman origins of the city of Brixellum.

Tours are by reservation (tel. and WhatsApp +39 351 3302056) and guide young and old to discover the dual soul of the village, between popular cinema and ancient history.

The Pink Night

The most anticipated event in Brescello is the Notte Rosa (Pink Night), scheduled for Monday, June 1st: from sunset to dawn, the small town center comes alive with music, shows, entertainment, and activities for all ages. It is the Brescello version of the famous summer festival on the Romagna coast, here adapted to the intimate and familiar atmosphere of the Bassa.

Who is it for

This is an event suitable for families, cinema and literature enthusiasts, hikers and cycle tourists, and anyone who wants to discover an authentic corner of Emilia-Romagna away from the beaten path. The festival is the perfect opportunity to experience Brescello and the entire Bassa Reggiana at the right pace, the slow rhythms of the great river and its floodplains.