Interregional Cantamaggio Festival of Montereggio

The Cantamaggio of Montereggio: A tradition brought back to life

The Interregional Cantamaggio Festival of Montereggio is one of the most cherished events in the calendar of folk traditions of the Northern Apennines. Born in 2003 in the small village of Montereggio — the town that gave the event its name — the festival brings together every year the 'maggianti' groups active in the territories spanning Liguria, Emilia, and Tuscany, who act as guardians of an intangible heritage made of voices, verses, and melodies passed down through generations.

What is the 'Canto del Maggio'?

The 'Canto del Maggio' (May Song) is an ancient form of begging song that celebrates the return of spring: groups of singers, the 'maggianti', travel through villages and countryside, intoning auspicious verses that welcome the reawakening of nature and bring good wishes to families. It is a choral practice deeply rooted in Apennine culture, a symbol of identity, collective memory, and community belonging. The festival was created specifically to promote and preserve this legacy, giving various groups the opportunity to meet, perform, and engage with one another in one great day of celebration.

A traveling event

One of the most fascinating features of the Cantamaggio of Montereggio is its traveling nature: each year, the festival is hosted by a different municipality in the Tuscan-Ligurian-Emilian Apennine area, allowing the tradition to traverse and connect different territories. In 2026, it was the turn of Zeri, specifically the Rossano Valley, one of the most authentic and pristine areas of Lunigiana, in the Province of Massa-Carrara. The 2025 edition was held in Montereggio, while for 2027, the festival is set to move toward the Nure Valley, in the Piacenza area.

Zeri and the Rossano Valley

The Municipality of Zeri, in upper Lunigiana, is a mountain territory composed of scattered small villages, forests, and pastures, famous for its wild nature and the Zeri lamb, a prized gastronomic presidium. The Rossano Valley, with its settlements nestled in the greenery of the Apennines, offers the ideal setting for an event that combines folk singing with the landscape: a day where choir performances alternate with walks, moments of conviviality, and the discovery of the municipality's hamlets.

A community celebration

The Cantamaggio is not just a show: it is above all a great moment of community gathering. Singers, musicians, supporters, folk culture enthusiasts, and curious visitors meet for a day dedicated to tradition, supported by the work of local associations and the warm hospitality of the Zeri villages. The event attracts hundreds of participants and visitors every year, confirming how alive and beloved this tradition remains in the Tuscan-Ligurian-Emilian Apennines.