Festival delle Colline at the Rocca di Carmignano

A historic festival in the hills of Prato

The Festival delle Colline is one of the longest-running singer-songwriter music festivals in Tuscany. Established in the late 1970s, it is promoted by the Municipality of Poggio a Caiano in collaboration with the municipalities of Prato and Carmignano. Every summer, it winds through Medici villas, courtyards, libraries, and historic fortifications across the region. The artistic direction is led by Gianni Bianchi, while the organization is managed by laCoz srls. The festival has always focused on high-quality programming, blending big names in Italian music, international projects, and emerging artists, always in dialogue with the venues that host them.

The Carmignano stop at the medieval Rocca

Among the most beloved venues of the festival is the Rocca di Carmignano, in the Municipality of Carmignano, in the Province of Prato. Its origins date back to the Middle Ages: documented as early as the year 1000, the fortress was long contested between Florence, Pistoia, and Prato due to its strategic position on the Montalbano. Even today, its 14th-century defensive walls and bell tower dominate the village and the valley below. Attending a concert inside at dusk means experiencing music within history: the stage is set in a secluded, evocative space where the natural acoustics and the panorama of the Tuscan hills become an integral part of the show.

What makes this evening special

• A unique setting: the medieval fortification of a village in the Chianti Montalbano, home to the famous Carmignano DOCG wine.
• Singer-songwriter programming: acoustic projects and contemporary influences, carefully curated by the artistic direction.
• Intimate atmosphere: limited seating, attentive listening, and an atmosphere far from mass-market festivals.
• Sunset timing: the Carmignano concerts begin in the late afternoon, allowing you to enjoy the golden hour light over the hills.

The territory

Carmignano is a hillside village just a few kilometres from Prato and Florence, nestled in the vineyards of the Montalbano. Beyond the Rocca, the area holds treasures such as the Visitation altarpiece by Pontormo in the Pieve di San Michele and the Etruscan archaeological park. An evening at the Festival delle Colline is the perfect opportunity to discover an authentic corner of Tuscany, blending music, history, and landscape.