Classica — Summer Chamber Music Festival (Gambassi Terme Edition)

A historic festival in the Florentine Valdelsa

Classica is the summer chamber music festival that has linked the towns of Gambassi Terme and Montaione, in the province of Florence, since 1995. Born from a partnership between the two local administrations and the Orchestra della Toscana (ORT)—one of Italy's most esteemed ensembles—the festival brings great European music to the hills, parish churches, and villages of this corner of Tuscany, combining artistic excellence with free admission.

The chamber ensembles of the Orchestra della Toscana

At the heart of the festival are the chamber groups of the ORT, the orchestra founded in Florence in 1980 and based at the Teatro Verdi. Quartets, quintets, string trios, and wind ensembles take turns in concerts lasting about an hour, without an intermission, designed for a broad and family-friendly audience. Performances take place in some of the most evocative local venues: in Gambassi Terme, the modern Church of Cristo Re and the stunning Romanesque Pieve di Santa Maria a Chianni, a historic stop on the Via Francigena; in Montaione, the concerts reach the complex of the Jerusalem of San Vivaldo.

The 2026 program in Gambassi Terme

The 2026 edition features three Sunday appointments in Gambassi Terme, all at 6:00 PM in the Church of Cristo Re:

• June 7 — "Lo sgarbo all'Opera": The ORT String Ensemble performs the Prelude from Wagner's Tristan und Isolde in a version for string sextet, and Giovanni Sgambati's String Nonet.
• June 14 — "Il colore delle viole": The ORT Strings Quintet tackles Mozart's String Quintets K515 and K516, some of the highest achievements in the chamber repertoire.
• June 28 — "Rosa Settecento": The ORT Quartet with flute performs music by Cimarosa, Devienne, and Mozart, in a tribute to the grace and lightness of the 18th century.

The festival then continues in July in Montaione with further concerts featuring the orchestra's chamber groups.

A festival for everyone

Classica is a cultural initiative that enhances the artistic and landscape heritage of Gambassi Terme and the entire Valdelsa, offering residents and visitors the chance to hear top-tier performers in settings steeped in history. Admission to the concerts is free until all available seats are taken, confirming the popular and inclusive vocation of the event, supported by the Municipality of Gambassi Terme and the Municipality of Montaione in the Tuscany Region.