/contè.sto/ — Contemporary History Festival

A festival that brings history to the square

Founded in 2025, /contè.sto/ — Contemporary History Festival is an event that chose Empoli, in the heart of the Empolese-Valdelsa area in the province of Florence, to transform city squares into open-air classrooms. The concept is as simple as it is ambitious: to bring high-level historiography to the general public through public lectures, dialogues, and narratives that span the 20th century right up to the present day. The scientific direction is led by historian Carlo Greppi, one of the most prominent voices in Italian historical outreach.

History in profile: the 2026 edition

The second edition, scheduled from September 18th to 20th, 2026, revolves around the theme «History in profile»: a journey that focuses on specific figures and human archetypes — artists, explorers, bandits, scientists, religious figures, partisans, and publishers — to recount the great transformations of the contemporary era through their stories. Fifteen meetings over forty-eight hours will animate the historic squares, including Piazza Farinata degli Uberti, Piazza del Popolo, Piazza Madonna della Quiete, and the Chiostro degli Agostiniani.

Voices and protagonists

The programme brings together leading historians, writers, and intellectuals. Guests for the 2026 edition include writer and essayist Pankaj Mishra, former politician Pier Luigi Bersani, and actor and storyteller Ascanio Celestini, alongside scholars such as Vincenzo Trione, Carmine Pinto, Valeria Galimi, Massimo Bucciantini, Mariano Tomatis, Claudio Ferlan, Valeria Deplano, Bruno Maida, Valentine Lomellini, Chiara Colombini, and publisher Giuseppe Laterza.

• Public lectures held by historians of national and international renown
• Dialogues and interviews with writers, journalists, and key figures in Italian cultural life
• Outdoor events in the monumental squares of Empoli's city centre
• Free admission to all appointments

Empoli and Tuscany

An industrious city with a strong civic identity, Empoli is located along the Arno river, halfway between Florence and Pisa, in one of Tuscany's most vibrant areas. With /contè.sto/, the Municipality, under the patronage of the Tuscany Region and with the support of Unicoop Firenze, reaffirms a cultural vocation that makes historical outreach a popular and participatory event. Since its first edition, the festival has established itself as one of the most anticipated events in Empoli's September calendar.