Festival Paganiniano di Carro

A quarter of a century in Paganini's name

Born in 2001, the Festival Paganiniano di Carro celebrates its 25th edition in 2026, an important milestone for a festival that has transformed a small village in the La Spezia hinterland into a benchmark for international music. Carro, in the heart of Val di Vara (province of La Spezia), is where the family roots of Niccolò Paganini are preserved: the family of the great Genoese violinist came from these valleys, and the family home is still preserved in the village.

A festival spread across the Ligurian hinterland

The festival is organized by the Società dei Concerti della Spezia, a historic musical institution founded in 1919, with the support of the Liguria Region, the Carispezia Foundation, and the Municipality of Carro. The concerts are not held in a single hall but wind through villages, churches, historic villas, and squares in the province of La Spezia, creating a true cultural tourism itinerary that enhances lesser-known villages and the unspoiled environment of Val di Vara.

Between tradition and new talents

The heart of the festival is its connection with the Premio Paganini in Genoa: every year, the winner of the prestigious violin competition is the protagonist of a concert in Carro. Alongside established performers, the festival gives space to young emerging musicians, with a focus on new generations. In 2015-2016, the festival received the EFFE Label, a European recognition reserved for excellent festivals on the continent.

Casa Paganini Experience

The twenty-fifth anniversary edition also marks the birth of the Casa Paganini Experience, a new cultural hub created in Carro with PNRR funds and permanently dedicated to the composer. A place intended to extend the dialogue between the village and its most illustrious musical heritage beyond the summer.