Lunaria dei Calanchi — Encounters at Dusk
A season of culture, theatre, and music among the badlands of Val d'Arda
About Lunaria dei Calanchi
A Review Born from the Landscape
Lunaria dei Calanchi — Encounters at Dusk is the new cultural review in Lugagnano Val d'Arda, a municipality in the Province of Piacenza, in the heart of Emilia-Romagna. Promoted by the Municipality of Lugagnano Val d'Arda, the event debuts in 2026 with a widespread program that runs from summer to autumn, intertwining theatre, music, literature, and nature. The common thread is already declared in the title: the encounters take place at sunset, when the low light illuminates the calanchi (badlands), the characteristic clay formations that shape the landscape of Val d'Arda and which the festival chooses as its natural backdrop.
Culture Among Squares, Theatre, and Badlands
The events are spread across various locations in the area: the A. Barani Theatre, Piazza Giardino in the town center, and the hamlet of Torricella, nestled among the badlands. The review combines well-known names from the Italian cultural scene with local proposals, including art lectures, open-air theatre performances, symphonic and choral concerts, literary readings, and music evenings. The format favors outdoor spaces and close interaction between artists and the public, in an informal atmosphere that enhances the sense of community.
The Nights of Veleia and the Dario Fo Centenary
Among the most anticipated sections, the Nights of Veleia in the summer of 2026 dedicate a series of evenings to the centenary of the birth of Dario Fo, Nobel Prize winner for literature. The civil and popular theatre of the playwright, intertwined with the work of Franca Rame, returns to the stage on some of the most significant evenings of the review, in dialogue with the tradition of popular storytelling that has always characterized these territories.
Walks in the Badlands
Completing the program are a series of guided nature walks within the Stirone and Piacenziano Regional Park: themed walks to discover orchids, olive trees, and truffles, allowing visitors to experience the badland landscape and the biodiversity of Val d'Arda. It's a way to closely link culture with the territory, making the badlands not just a backdrop but a true experience.
An Accessible Offering
Lunaria dei Calanchi presents itself as one of the richest and most accessible summer offerings in the Piacenza area: all events are free admission, with reservations appreciated for events with limited seating. It's an opportunity to discover Lugagnano Val d'Arda and its landscape off the beaten track, accompanied by the evening light and the profile of the badlands.
Lunaria dei Calanchi — edition 2026
The first edition of Lunaria dei Calanchi inaugurates a widespread cultural review that, from June 11 to September 26, 2026, enlivens Lugagnano Val d'Arda and its hamlets with theatre, music, literature, and nature. Promoted by the Municipality, the event brings some well-known names from Italian culture to the squares, the theatre, and the badlands, alongside musical and choral proposals from the region. The heart of the summer is the Nights of Veleia, dedicated to the centenary of Dario Fo's birth, and the nature walks in the Stirone and Piacenziano Park. Admission to all events is free.
Programme Lunaria dei Calanchi 2026
June 11 — A. Barani Theatre, 9 PM
- Opening event: Jacopo Veneziani presents the art lecture «Non chiamatele Muse» (Don't Call Them Muses), dedicated to lesser-known female artists in art history
June 19 — Piazza Giardino, 9 PM
- «Cinema amore mio» (Cinema My Love), an open-air symphonic-choral concert by the Orchestra e Coro Luigi Cremona, featuring the most famous film soundtracks
June 27 — Torricella, 6 PM
- Giuseppe Cederna in «Non dimenticarti mai del cielo» (Never Forget the Sky), a theatre performance set in the badlands landscape
- Following (8:30 PM) concert «Stato di grazia tour» with Ilaria Pastore and Jacopo Martignoni
The Nights of Veleia — Dario Fo Centenary
- July 24 — «Dedalo e Icaro» (Daedalus and Icarus), by Franca Rame and Dario Fo
- July 25 — Jacopo Fo: «Com'è essere figlio di Franca Rame e Dario Fo» (What it's like to be the son of Franca Rame and Dario Fo)
- August 1 — «Mistero Buffo» (Comic Mystery) with Mario Pirovano
August
- August 2 — Torricella: book club with Roberto Camurri and the novel «Splendeva l'innocenza» (Innocence Shone)
- August 6 — Piazza Giardino, 9 PM: Cuarteto Pichuco in «Tango Emotion» (Summertime in Jazz series)
September 26 — Piazza Giardino, 6 PM
- Closing with «Serenata alla luna» (Serenade to the Moon), a choral performance with the choirs Incanto Libero APS and Il Pellegrino
Walks in the Badlands (Stirone and Piacenziano Park)
- May 16 — Orchids
- October 17 — Olive Trees
- November 14 — Truffles
Program subject to change: it is advisable to check dates and times on the official channels of the review before each event.
Highlights Lunaria dei Calanchi 2026
Prices Lunaria dei Calanchi 2026
Practical information — Lunaria dei Calanchi
How to Get There
Lugagnano Val d'Arda is located in Val d'Arda, in the province of Piacenza. By car, it can be reached from the SS9 Via Emilia with a detour towards Val d'Arda, or from the A1 motorway (Fiorenzuola d'Arda exit) and the A21 (Piacenza Sud exit). The nearest train station is Fiorenzuola d'Arda, on the Milan–Bologna line, connected to Lugagnano by intercity buses.
Venues
The events mainly take place in Piazza Giardino (location Il Pradello) and at the A. Barani Theatre, as well as in the hamlet of Torricella, amidst the badlands. The nature walks start within the Stirone and Piacenziano Park.
Admission and Reservations
All events are free admission. For events with limited seating and for the walks, reservations are recommended.
Contacts
Info and reservations: Alice +39 345 327 2314, Jessica +39 349 564 4142. Updates on social media channels Facebook and Instagram @lunariadeicalanchi.
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 — Lunaria dei Calanchi
Piazza Giardino e Teatro A. Barani
Piazza Giardino, 29018 Lugagnano Val d'Arda