Fol in Fest
The travelling festival of the Piacenza Apennines stops in Morfasso, featuring walks, DOP cured meats, and mountain culture
About Fol in Fest
Fol in Fest in Morfasso, heart of the Val d'Arda
Fol in Fest is a widespread cultural event that, over five days in July, travels through the mountain municipalities of the Apennines in the Province of Piacenza, Emilia-Romagna. The festival involves four promoting municipalities — Alta Val Tidone (lead municipality), Morfasso, Ferriere, and Ottone — with a programme that moves from village to village. Morfasso, nestled among the woods of the Val d'Arda and Alta Val Nure, is one of the most beloved stops: here, events often take place in the central Piazza Tenente Pietro Inzani and along the paths leading up to the ridges.
Walks, Mountains, and Culture
Designed to give voice and future to the Apennine lands, Fol in Fest combines entertainment and reflection: guided walks and excursions, concerts, theatrical performances, book presentations, and meetings with writers, journalists, and intellectuals. In Morfasso, the typical format alternates between the morning excursion — meeting in the village or the hamlet of Rocchetta di Morfasso — and evenings that explore the culture and flavours of the mountains, such as the events dedicated to Piacenza's DOP cured meats (coppa, pancetta, and salame), symbols of the province's gastronomic identity. Over the years, the festival has hosted prominent guests in Morfasso, such as writer Paolo Cognetti, poet Davide Rondoni, and photographer-walker Emiliano Cribari.
The 2026 Theme: The Mountain between Paradise and Hell
The fifth edition, scheduled for July 2026, adopts a Dantesque theme: "Training for the Ascent. The Mountain between Paradise and Hell". An invitation to view the mountain as a symbolic category — the ascent as effort, freedom, and responsibility — and the Apennine villages as places of possible transformation and rebirth. Artistic director Massimo Polledri explicitly references the moral structure of Dante's Purgatorio. The edition also includes a call for entries for university and high school students, with essays on the theme (prizes of €1,000 and €500).
Why it's Worth Climbing to Morfasso
- Widespread festival across four municipalities in the Piacenza Apennines, with Morfasso as a main stop
- Guided walks and excursions through the woods and ridges of Val d'Arda and Alta Val Nure
- Evenings on mountain culture and typical Piacenza cured meats in Piazza Tenente Pietro Inzani
- Free admission to most events
More than just a series of events, Fol in Fest is a cultural project that tells the story of and revitalises the mountain villages: in Morfasso, it becomes an opportunity to discover a vibrant, welcoming Apennine region with a promising future.
Fol in Fest — edition 2026
Fol in Fest 2026 in Morfasso — The Fifth Edition
The fifth edition of Fol in Fest is scheduled for July 2026 in the Apennine municipalities of Piacenza: Alta Val Tidone (lead municipality), Morfasso, Ferriere, and Ottone. Artistic director Massimo Polledri has presented the year's theme: "Training for the Ascent. The Mountain between Paradise and Hell", which blends Dantesque references with reflections on the mountain as a place of effort, freedom, and rebirth.
The 2026 edition includes a call for entries for university and high school students, with essays on the theme (prizes of €1,000 and €500, deadline November 20, 2026). In Morfasso, as in previous editions, guided walks and excursions are expected, along with evenings dedicated to mountain culture and flavours in Piazza Tenente Pietro Inzani.
The detailed programme for the Morfasso stop, including dates, times, locations, and guests, will be announced on the official website folinfest.it in the months leading up to the festival.
Programme Fol in Fest 2026
The detailed programme for the fifth edition, including the line-up of guests, times, and locations of the events in Morfasso, will be announced on the official website folinfest.it in the months preceding the festival.
As per tradition, the Morfasso stop is expected to include:
- Guided excursions and walks in the morning through the woods and ridges of the Val d'Arda, meeting in the village or the hamlet of Rocchetta di Morfasso;
- Cultural and gastronomic evenings in Piazza Tenente Pietro Inzani, dedicated to the mountains and typical Piacenza cured meats;
- Meetings, book presentations, and in-depth discussions on the year's theme.
The theme of the edition is "Training for the Ascent. The Mountain between Paradise and Hell".
Highlights Fol in Fest 2026
Dantesque theme of the edition: "Training for the Ascent. The Mountain between Paradise and Hell". In Morfasso, guided walks and evenings on mountain culture and Piacenza DOP cured meats are expected in Piazza Tenente Pietro Inzani. Literary competition for students with cash prizes.
Prices Fol in Fest 2026
Practical information — Fol in Fest
Getting Here
Morfasso is located in the upper Val d'Arda, in the Piacenza Apennines. By car from Piacenza, take the SS9 Via Emilia and then the provincial roads towards Lugagnano Val d'Arda and Morfasso (approx. 1 hour). As it is a travelling festival that also includes Alta Val Tidone, Ferriere, and Ottone, a car is recommended for travelling between villages.
Tickets
Most events are free to enter. Reservations may be required for guided excursions and author lunches. The programme and participation details are published on the official website folinfest.it.
Tips
For the walks, hiking boots, water, and mountain-appropriate clothing are recommended. It's advisable to check which municipality is hosting each event from time to time, given the widespread nature of the festival.
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 — Fol in Fest
Piazza Tenente Pietro Inzani