Montale Land of Fairy Tales

A festival dedicated to fairy tales in the heart of Tuscany

Every spring, Montale, a small town in the Province of Pistoia nestled in the Tuscany hills, transforms for three days into the "Land of Fairy Tales." The event, promoted by the Montale Department of Culture, celebrates the educational and cultural value of storytelling with a packed calendar of meetings, animated readings, performances, workshops, and exhibitions aimed at children, teenagers, families, and enthusiasts.

The roots: Gherardo Nerucci and the Montale tales

The festival finds its roots in an illustrious local citizen, Gherardo Nerucci, author of the famous "Sixty Montale Folk Tales," one of the most authoritative and precious collections for the study of Italian fairy tales. It is precisely around this legacy, and in collaboration with the Policarpo Petrocchi Literary Park, that the event builds its path each year, weaving together local memory, oral storytelling, and great authors of children's literature.

Villa La Smilea, the setting for the event

The main stage for the events is Villa Castello La Smilea, a historic residence in Montale that houses the municipal library, which boasts a remarkable collection of texts on fairy tales. Its rooms, gardens, and exhibition spaces host conferences, readings, school performances, and moments for the little ones in an intimate and cozy atmosphere.

A program for all ages

Each edition revolves around a great name in fairy tale narrative: after being dedicated to Italo Calvino as a "fabulist," the event paid tribute to Gianni Rodari, the undisputed master of fantasy and children's literature. The program alternates:

• conferences and round tables with scholars and fairy tale experts;
• readings and theatrical performances by nationally renowned actors;
• animated readings, storytelling, music, and games organized by students and associations;
• creative workshops, exhibitions, and activities dedicated to children.

Montale, a town to discover

Visiting Montale during the festival is also an opportunity to discover an authentic Tuscan village, far from the major tourist flows but rich in history and narrative tradition. The festival is an experience designed especially for families, who can rediscover together the ancient pleasure of telling and listening to fairy tales.