Creativamente Roero in San Martino Alfieri
The inaugural stage of the Artist Residencies in the Roero region, featuring Carlo Gloria's Agriparco
About Creativamente Roero
Contemporary art among the villages of Roero
Creativamente Roero – Artist Residencies among Villages and Castles is a widespread event that has been transforming the Roero and Monferrato territory into a vast contemporary art laboratory since 2018. Promoted by the Creativamente Roero Association and curated by Patrizia Rossello, the initiative invites Italian and international artists each year to stay in small towns, where they observe the landscape, engage with local residents, and create site-specific works intended to remain as a shared community heritage.
San Martino Alfieri, where the journey begins
The Municipality of San Martino Alfieri, located in the province of Asti in the heart of the Roero wine landscape, is the first stop of the traveling inaugural festival: it is from here that the journey through the participating villages and castles starts every year. The opening day attracts hundreds of visitors and launches a route that crosses multiple towns in a single Sunday, weaving together art, music, dance, and tastings.
Carlo Gloria's Agriparco
The mark left in San Martino Alfieri is Carlo Gloria's Agriparco: the artist reclaimed the former bocce court on Via Tanaro, transforming it into a 300-square-meter public botanical garden open to the community. The project combines mural painting, landscape design, and the planting of native species—including cornelian cherry and juneberry—along with groundcover plants, preserving the old bocce court as a memory of the site. It is a work that tells the story of sustainable agriculture and ecosystem balance, returned to the inhabitants as a living park to be cared for over time.
A three-phase residency model
The project follows a consolidated model consisting of three stages: initial exploration of the site, creation of the work with community involvement, and the public presentation event. This participatory approach has allowed for the installation of numerous permanent works across the territory over the years, creating a true open-air museum among the hills of Roero and Monferrato, now a UNESCO World Heritage wine landscape.
A cultural network in Piedmont
Creativamente Roero involves a network of municipalities in the Roero and Monferrato areas, with the support of the Piedmont Region, banking foundations, and the Cuneo Chamber of Commerce. The event is part of the path towards «Alba Capital of Contemporary Art 2027» and represents a virtuous example of enhancing small towns through art, capable of attracting visitors and restoring centrality to Piedmontese villages.
Creativamente Roero — edition 2026
The inaugural stage on May 24
On Sunday, May 24, 2026, San Martino Alfieri opened the traveling festival for the eighth edition of Creativamente Roero. At 10:00 AM, at the former bocce court on Via Tanaro 7, Carlo Gloria's work, the Agriparco, was inaugurated in the presence of the public and local authorities. The inauguration was accompanied by ballroom and traditional dances performed by Francesca Clerico and Federico Cotto, while the Municipality offered breakfast to the participants.
The completed Agriparco
In San Martino Alfieri, Carlo Gloria completed the Agriparco started the previous year: a 300-square-meter public botanical garden created from the former bocce court, featuring mural painting, native species such as cornelian cherry and juneberry, groundcover plants, and the preservation of the old bocce court as a memory of the site. The work has become part of the event's widespread museum, remaining as a permanent asset for the community.
A day-long celebration
From the San Martino Alfieri stage, the journey continued towards Antignano, Govone, and Castellinaldo d'Alba, with inaugurations, musical entertainment, and food and wine tastings of local products. The day, animated from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM, attracted over 600 participants among the hills of the Roero astigiano area.
Programme Creativamente Roero 2026
Sunday, May 24, 2026 — Inaugural stage in San Martino Alfieri
- 10:00 AM — Former bocce court, Via Tanaro 7: inauguration of Carlo Gloria's Agriparco
- Ballroom and traditional dances with Francesca Clerico and Federico Cotto
- Breakfast offered by the Municipality
The traveling festival continues throughout the day
- 12:00 PM — Antignano (Via Malabaila): work by Francesco Meloni, violin by Irma Bestente (MACF), lunch organized by Pro Loco Gonella (reservation required)
- 3:00 PM — Govone (Roseto Reale, Viale del Parco del Castello): installation by Giuseppe Gavazza, bell concert «Why the bells ring», snack offered by the Municipality
- 5:00 PM — Castellinaldo d'Alba (former water tower): work by Saverio Todaro, release of a bird of prey by the Lipu Wildlife Recovery Center, aperitif offered by the Vinaioli Association
Highlights Creativamente Roero 2026
- Inauguration of Carlo Gloria's Agriparco, a 300-square-meter public botanical garden
- Ballroom and traditional dances with Francesca Clerico and Federico Cotto
- Breakfast offered by the Municipality of San Martino Alfieri
- Starting point of the traveling festival through four Roero villages
Prices Creativamente Roero 2026
Practical information — Creativamente Roero
How to get there
San Martino Alfieri is located in the province of Asti, on the hills of the Roero area. By car, it can be reached via the A33 Asti-Cuneo motorway or the A21, taking the Asti exit and continuing along the road to Alba. The nearest train station is in Asti, from where you can continue by car or local transport.
Admission and booking
The traveling festival and the inauguration of the Agriparco are free to attend. For lunches and social gatherings along the route, booking may be required: we recommend checking the official website for updated schedules and participation details for individual stages.
Tips
The event is set within the Roero wine landscape: it is well worth combining your visit with a walk through the vineyards and surrounding villages, and a tasting at local wineries. The Agriparco is a public garden that can be visited even outside of the inaugural day.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Creativamente Roero
Ex bocciofila di via Tanaro (Agriparco)
Via Tanaro 7, 14010 San Martino Alfieri