Musica sulle Apuane – Hansel and Gretel in the Witch's Forest

A theatrical fairy tale at Alpe di Puntato

As part of Musica sulle Apuane, the festival that brings music and theater to the most beautiful spots of the Apuan Alps from late April to mid-September, there is an event designed especially for children and families: "Hansel and Gretel in the Witch's Forest", taking place on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at Alpe di Puntato, above Stazzema, in the Province of Lucca. It is an open-air theatrical performance, immersed in the woods and high-altitude pastures of the Apuan Tuscany, where the famous Brothers Grimm fairy tale comes to life among trees, clearings, and the scent of the mountains.

Nemorea, Teatro delle Foreste

The show is produced by Nemorea – Teatro delle Foreste, a group that takes theater out of traditional venues and into nature. Dramaturgy and narration are handled by Sonia Montanaro, while Simone Faraoni accompanies the story with flutes, percussion, and vocals: live music and spoken word intertwine to guide adults and children into the "witch's forest" in an experience that is part storytelling, part soundscape, and part hike. The natural setting of Alpe di Puntato, with its meadows and beech forests, becomes an integral part of the stage.

A festival between music and mountains

Musica sulle Apuane was born in 2013 from an idea that blends music, nature, and the promotion of the mountain territory. It is organized by the Italian Alpine Club (C.A.I.), "Elso Biagi" section of Massa, together with the Apuan Alps Regional Park and the C.A.I. Tuscany Regional Group, under the artistic direction of Gioia Giusti. The 14th edition, scheduled from April 25 to mid-September 2026, offers fourteen events featuring music and theater spread across mountain huts, meadows, trails, and villages of the Apuan Alps and Lunigiana, with guests such as cellist Giovanni Sollima, the gypsy jazz band I Patagarri, actress Lella Costa, and the all-female jazz trio Le Scat Noir. All events are free to attend.

Alpe di Puntato above Stazzema

Alpe di Puntato is an ancient mountain pasture in the Municipality of Stazzema, in the heart of the Apuan Alps, nestled among pastures, woods, and the ruins of a small rural settlement. It is a favorite destination for hikers, accessible on foot along the trails that cross this wild corner of the Versilia mountains. The show is held in collaboration with the Alpe di Puntato farm and the nearby Rifugio Il Paleo, making this day an opportunity to discover a place that is otherwise rarely visited.

Hike, snack, and the spirit of the festival

Consistent with the soul of Musica sulle Apuane, "Hansel and Gretel" is designed as an excursion: the event is reached via a loop hike accompanied by C.A.I. guides, suitable for children and families, and concludes with a snack at altitude. It is a way to combine theater, walking, and mountain discovery, introducing children to nature and the Apuan Alps with a lighthearted touch. Admission to the show is free; registration is required for the guided hike.