Le Piazzette di Barga

Le Piazzette di Barga, the beating heart of Barga's summer

Every year in mid-July, the historic center of Barga, one of the most beautiful villages in the Serchio Valley in the province of Lucca, transforms into a sprawling village of music, flavors, and social life. Le Piazzette di Barga is the most anticipated and well-attended summer event in the Garfagnana and Media Valle areas: for over ten consecutive nights, the streets and hidden corners of the medieval castle are filled with lights, aromas, and live concert melodies, attracting thousands of visitors from across Tuscany and beyond.

A journey through the castle squares

The soul of the event is its itinerant nature: the public strolls freely from one small square to another, climbing up and down the ancient alleys of Barga. The route typically winds from Piazzale del Fosso, through Porta Reale and Piazza delle Mura, up to the Cathedral and the picturesque gardens and panoramic vegetable plots overlooking the Apuan Alps and the Apennines. Each space becomes a meeting point where you can stop to eat, drink, and listen to music.

The gastronomic piazzette

The convivial heart of the festival is entrusted to local associations and public venues in the historic center, which set up various gastronomic piazzette with local cuisine, themed menus, and different offerings each night. Among the groups animating the event are:

• Piazzetta delle Mura, with the Atletico Penarol Filecchio (food and music)
• Orti della Misericordia, with the Amatori Castelvecchio
• Terrazze delle Stanze della Memoria, with the Gatti Randagi
• Giardini di Via della Fontana, with the GS Barga
• Orti del podere sotto il Duomo, with the Vignola della Parrocchia

In addition to these, numerous bars, restaurants, and venues within the castle extend their space into the streets and terraces, offering their own food and entertainment.

Dozens of live concerts

From around 10:00 PM, every piazzetta lights up its own stage: cover bands, tribute acts, acoustic groups, rock, pop, singer-songwriter music, and sounds for every taste alternate in dozens of performances each edition. The 'diffused music' formula allows you to move from one concert to another in just a few steps, making Le Piazzette a dynamic event perfect for families, young people, and tourists alike.

A community event

Organized by Pro Loco Barga together with the Municipality of Barga, with the involvement of local associations and businesses, the festival is an authentic example of community-driven celebration. Le Piazzette has become a symbol of Barga's identity and a catalyst for tourism in the village and the entire Serchio Valley, a historic region of northern Tuscany.