Music in the Hamlets
Free itinerant concerts in the hamlets of Empoli, every Tuesday evening throughout the summer
About Music in the Hamlets
A festival that brings music where it usually doesn't reach
In the heart of the Empoli summer, Music in the Hamlets is the festival that has made proximity its hallmark: instead of concentrating concerts in the historic center, it chooses a different hamlet of Empoli, in the Metropolitan City of Florence, Tuscany, every week. The result is a musical journey that passes through Ponte a Elsa, Marcignana, Serravalle, Santa Maria, Villanuova, Brusciana, Corniola, Pozzale, and Fontanella, transforming village churches, parks, cloisters, and social clubs into open-air concert halls.
Every Tuesday a genre, a place, an atmosphere
The common thread is variety: the festival alternates between classical music, opera, jazz, tango, and singer-songwriter performances, entrusting each evening to a different ensemble or soloist. You will experience everything from Puccini and Verdi arias to the moods of Astor Piazzolla, from South African jazz to tributes to the great Italian songbook. It is a formula that allows the audience to discover new repertoires and ensembles, all just a stone's throw from home.
Free, open-air, for everyone
All concerts are free to attend, subject to availability, and start at 9:15 PM. The evening setting, whether on the parvis of a country church or in the garden of a local club, gives the festival an intimate and familiar character, far from the logic of mass events: it is the dimension of a village concert, but with a curated, high-level artistic proposal.
The project and the organizers
The festival is promoted by the Associazione Il Contrappunto, an Empoli-based organization active in spreading music throughout the area, with the patronage of the Municipality of Empoli and the support of the Ministry of Culture and the Fondazione Il Cuore si scioglie. Music in the Hamlets is part of the broader city summer program "Uno spettacolo d'estate," which brings over one hundred musical, theatrical, and cultural events to Empoli between June and September, of which this festival is one of the most deeply rooted in the local fabric.
Why it's worth attending
- Free live music concerts in evocative, off-the-beaten-path settings.
- A different genre every week: there is something to satisfy every taste.
- The chance to discover the hamlets of Empoli and their heritage of churches and community spaces.
- A perfect open-air summer atmosphere for an evening with family or friends.
Music in the Hamlets — edition 2026
The 2026 festival features nine events, one every Tuesday evening from June 2 to July 28, always at 9:15 PM and with free admission. Each evening changes hamlet and musical genre, taking the audience on an itinerary that touches Ponte a Elsa, Marcignana, Serravalle, Santa Maria, Villanuova, Brusciana, Corniola, Pozzale, and Fontanella. The program is curated by the Associazione Il Contrappunto, with the patronage of the Municipality of Empoli and as part of the city's "Uno spettacolo d'estate" program.
Programme Music in the Hamlets 2026
Nine free concerts, every Tuesday at 9:15 PM. Below is the complete calendar for the 2026 edition:
- June 2 — Ponte a Elsa, Church of Santo Stefano: Quintett8ni, "Made in Italy" (Italian classical music, opening with a tribute to the anniversary of the Republic).
- June 9 — Marcignana, Church of San Pietro Park: Mario Menicagli, "Sillabe de… La Traviata" (opera).
- June 16 — Serravalle, Green Bar: Safari Jazz Quartet, "South Africa and Jazz".
- June 23 — Santa Maria, Centro*Empoli Gallery: Plectrum Orchestra conducted by Gabriele Centorbi (classical).
- June 30 — Villanuova, Arci Club: Pontormo Sax Quartet, "Latin Mood".
- July 7 — Brusciana, Church of San Bartolomeo: classical trio with music by Haydn, Bach, and Mozart.
- July 14 — Corniola, Cloister of SS. Simone and Giuda: soprano, tenor, and baritone in "Vie de Bohème" (tribute to Puccini).
- July 21 — Pozzale, REMS Garden: Ideandrè, tribute to Fabrizio De André (singer-songwriter).
- July 28 — Fontanella, Former School Garden: Marina Mulopulos Quartet, "Piazzolla Para Mi" (tango).
Highlights Music in the Hamlets 2026
Among the most anticipated moments: the inaugural concert dedicated to the anniversary of the Italian Republic, the operatic tribute to Puccini with "Vie de Bohème," the tribute to Fabrizio De André, and the closing evening with the tango of Astor Piazzolla in the "Piazzolla Para Mi" by the Marina Mulopulos Quartet.
Prices Music in the Hamlets 2026
Practical information — Music in the Hamlets
When
From June to July, every Tuesday evening starting at 9:15 PM.
Where
Hamlets of Empoli (FI), in Tuscany: each evening takes place in a different hamlet (churches, parks, cloisters, clubs). The exact location changes from week to week — check the updated program.
Admission
All concerts are free, with open entry until capacity is reached. Arriving early is recommended.
How to get there
Empoli is well connected by train (Empoli station on the Florence-Pisa line) and by the FI-PI-LI highway. The hamlets are accessible by car; please check the venue for each specific evening.
Contacts
Associazione Il Contrappunto — tel. +39 353 4799903, [email protected]
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