Giardini di Giochi
Traveling theater, music, and contemporary circus in the gardens of Lastra a Signa
About Giardini di Giochi
A festival that brings performance to the gardens
Giardini di Giochi is a traveling live performance project that every summer turns the public gardens of Lastra a Signa, in the metropolitan city of Florence, into open-air stages. Theater, music, puppetry, and contemporary circus reach the various hamlets of this Tuscan town, with a program designed for children, families, and the entire community. The 2026 edition runs from June 17 to July 15 with five free events, each hosted in a different local garden.
The format: workshops and performances
Each evening follows a tried-and-tested format: in the late afternoon, around 6:00 PM, a workshop dedicated to children kicks off the event, while the evening features the main performance, ranging from theater and live music to puppetry and circus arts. The audience is invited to bring a picnic; drinks are provided by the organizers in the informal and convivial atmosphere that has become the festival's hallmark. On the opening night at Parco della Rapaccia in Malmantile, the program is enriched with special features such as pizza in the woods and stargazing.
A community project
The festival is organized by the Compagnia Teatro Popolare d'Arte in collaboration with the Mascarà cultural association and with the support of the Municipality of Lastra a Signa, under the artistic direction of Francesco Giorgi. Giardini di Giochi was born from "La Piazza dei Bambini," a participatory project that has directly involved citizens of all generations over the years, from school children to local residents, in building a widespread cultural experience across the area.
Exploring the hamlets of Lastra a Signa
The traveling nature of the festival is at the heart of the initiative: events take place in various locations across the municipality, from the Parco della Rapaccia in Malmantile to Villa Caruso Bellosguardo, from the Parco Fluviale to the Giardino Ademilio Palloni in Brucianesi, and the Giardino delle Viottole in San Martino a Gangalandi. In this way, the festival brings live performance closer to those living in the villages of the Florentine Plain, enhancing green spaces that become theaters under the stars for one night. It is the perfect opportunity for families and children to experience culture for free and in the open air, in the heart of Tuscany.
Giardini di Giochi — edition 2026
The 2026 festival opens on June 17 at the Parco della Rapaccia in Malmantile and closes on July 15 at the Giardino delle Viottole in San Martino a Gangalandi, visiting a different location in the municipality each week. Five evening shows, preceded by workshops for children, bring the gardens of Lastra a Signa to life with theater, live music, puppetry, and circus arts, in a free format designed for families and children.
Programme Giardini di Giochi 2026
Five free events, each with a workshop for children at 6:00 PM and an evening performance. The public is welcome to bring a picnic; drinks are provided by the organizers.
June 17 — Parco della Rapaccia, Malmantile
"Il giardino della terra che respira" — Gran Teatro Dentro (Roberto Di Lernia / Rufino Theater). Workshop at 6:00 PM, show at 8:00 PM, pizza in the woods at 8:30 PM, "Astracadabra" stargazing at 10:00 PM.
June 24 — Villa Caruso Bellosguardo
"Il giardino della musica" — The Bell (Naranjarte, Ana Lorite & Sergio Aguilar). Workshop at 6:00 PM, show at 9:00 PM.
July 1 — Parco Fluviale
"Il giardino dell'equilibrio naturale" — Why Not? (Piero Ricciardi). Workshop at 6:00 PM, show at 9:00 PM.
July 8 — Giardino Ademilio Palloni, Brucianesi
"Il giardino dei giochi antichi" — Alphag Show (Mr. Sacha, Sacha Turano). Workshop at 6:00 PM, show at 9:00 PM.
July 15 — Giardino delle Viottole, San Martino a Gangalandi
"Il giardino delle maschere" — Cose da Lupi (Zanubrio Marionette). Workshop at 6:00 PM, show at 9:00 PM.
Highlights Giardini di Giochi 2026
- Opening night at Parco della Rapaccia with "Il giardino della terra che respira", pizza in the woods, and stargazing
- The concert-show "The Bell" at Villa Caruso Bellosguardo
- The contemporary circus of Alphag Show in Brucianesi
- Zanubrio's puppets with "Cose da Lupi" for the finale in San Martino a Gangalandi
Prices Giardini di Giochi 2026
Practical information — Giardini di Giochi
How to get there
Lastra a Signa is located on the Florentine Plain, a few kilometers from Florence, along the Tosco-Romagnola state road. It is accessible by train (Lastra a Signa station on the Florence-Pisa line) and by car from the Firenze-Scandicci exit on the A1 motorway. The evenings take place in gardens and parks across various hamlets: please check the venue for each individual event.
Admission and reservations
All events are free of charge, with reservations recommended. For information and bookings: WhatsApp +39 371 1152940, email [email protected], or call +39 055 8720058.
Tips
You are welcome to bring your own picnic; drinks are provided by the organizers. These are open-air performances suitable for children and families: bring a blanket or a folding chair.
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Where does it take place — Giardini di Giochi
Giardini e parchi di Lastra a Signa