Musica Sulle Apuane

A festival you reach on foot

Musica Sulle Apuane is a one-of-a-kind event: a cultural festival held at high altitude, amidst the peaks and forests of the Apuan Alps, straddling the municipality of Stazzema (Province of Lucca) and the territories of the Province of Massa-Carrara in Tuscany. To attend these concerts, a ticket isn't enough; you must head into the mountains, often on foot, following the trails that lead to the mountain huts and natural auditoriums where musicians and actors perform. It is precisely this shared effort, rewarded by the landscape and the music, that makes the festival so special.

Who organizes the festival

The festival is conceived and organized by the Italian Alpine Club (CAI), Massa Section "Elso Biagi", in collaboration with numerous CAI sections across Tuscany and the Apuan Alps Regional Park. The artistic direction is entrusted to Gioia Giusti. Launched in 2013, the festival reaches its fourteenth edition in 2026, confirming its status as a highly anticipated event for hikers and live music lovers alike.

The Rifugio Puliti in Stazzema

Among the stops on the schedule, the Rifugio Puliti, near Arni—a mountain hamlet in the municipality of Stazzema—is one of the most evocative venues. Here, immersed in the scenery of the Apuan Alps, the afternoon concerts offer an experience that blends hiking, landscape, and art. Stazzema is a municipality deeply connected to the memory and culture of the Apuan mountains, and hosting music at this altitude renews that identity every year.

How it works

• Period: From April to the end of September, with fourteen music and theatre appointments.
• Genres: From jazz to rock, classical to singer-songwriter music, as well as theatre and storytelling.
• Access: Every event can be reached via guided hikes organized by CAI sections, or independently by following trail markers.
• Admission: All performances are free and do not require reservations.

An experience between nature and culture

Musica Sulle Apuane is more than just a series of concerts: it is an invitation to experience the mountains in a different, slow, and mindful way. The days are composed of walking, breaks at mountain huts, packed lunches or meals at altitude, and, in the afternoon, music filling the crisp Apuan air. For those who love the lesser-known side of Tuscany—the one of high peaks and marble—it is a rare opportunity to discover an extraordinary territory accompanied by live music.