Bustese International Guitar Festival

The Guitar at Home in Busto Arsizio

The Bustese International Guitar Festival is one of the most important and long-standing festivals dedicated to classical guitar in Italy. Organized by the Mandolinisti Bustesi with the support of the Municipality of Busto Arsizio, in the province of Varese, it boasts over forty years of history, making it a national benchmark for the instrument.

Great Soloists and Plucked String Orchestra

Each year, the festival presents a series of concerts alternating recitals by internationally renowned guitarists with evenings featuring the Orchestra a Plettro dei Mandolinisti Bustesi, a historic local ensemble. The program ranges from classical repertoire to original compositions, offering the public a rich and varied panorama of literature for guitar and mandolin.

Evocative Venues

The concerts are held in charming locations within the city, particularly the Sala Tramogge dei Molini Marzoli — a splendid example of recovered industrial archaeology — and the Sala ProBusto. The choice of these venues enhances Busto Arsizio's architectural heritage and creates an intimate and focused atmosphere, ideal for listening.

A Living Musical Tradition

As part of the broader city event BA Musica, the festival is an expression of a mandolin and guitar tradition deeply rooted in Busto Arsizio. Entrusted also to young conductors, it keeps alive a musical history spanning decades and continues to bring the protagonists of the global guitar scene to the city.