Cantastorie Festival

A festival of the word in the heart of the Bassa modenese

The Cantastorie Festival is a young but already established cultural review that takes place in Mirandola, an important centre in the lower plains of the Province of Modena, in Emilia-Romagna. Conceived and curated by poet and lecturer Filippo Reggiani and promoted by the Circolo Politeama of San Martino Spino, the festival was born with a precise objective: to restore centrality to the word, understood as a tool for relationships, knowledge, and community building. In an era dominated by the speed and superficiality of communication, the Mirandola event chooses to slow down and give voice to those who write, recite, sing, and tell stories.

Three days of poetry, music, theatre, and thought

The formula of the Cantastorie Festival is that of a widespread celebration concentrated at the "Il Pico" Cultural Centre in Mirandola. The program intertwines different languages and registers without ever losing sight of the common thread of shared words:

• Poetry: the poetry slam, a live poetic challenge where poetry becomes voice, body, and direct relationship with the audience, is one of the most anticipated and participated moments.
• Literature: presentations of narrative and poetic works, meetings with authors and protagonists of the publishing world.
• Lectio magistralis: cultural insights entrusted to renowned scholars and speakers, which give intellectual depth to the review.
• Music and theatre: performances by local artists and evening theatre shows that conclude the days.
• "Il Sorriso di Miriam" Competition: the poetry competition organized in collaboration with local schools, which enhances the voice, thought, and sensitivity of new generations.

A review that builds community

The distinctive element of the festival is its ability to bring together different worlds—the academic and the popular, reflection and performance—without losing sight of the main objective: creating connections through culture. The festival involves the schools, associations, and institutions of Mirandola, with the support of the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Mirandola, and has grown edition after edition as an identity-building event for the city and the entire Bassa modenese area.

In Mirandola, the city of Pico

Hosting the festival at the "Il Pico" Cultural Centre is not a casual detail: Mirandola is the birthplace of Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, a symbol of Humanism and the centrality of culture and the word. The Cantastorie Festival ideally picks up this legacy, offering audiences of all ages a free opportunity to rediscover the pleasure of listening, reading, and meeting.