Nontìscordàrdimé Festival

A festival born from a poet's memory

The Nontìscordàrdimé Festival takes place in Agliano Terme, in the province of Asti, nestled in the heart of the Monferrato region—a land of Barbera wine and UNESCO World Heritage hills. The event is dedicated to the memory of Ivan Fassio (1979-2020), a poet, performer, writer, and art critic born in Agliano. He was the founder of the Spazio Parentesi in Turin, described as an authentic stream of performative consciousness where artists of all kinds could express themselves freely.

The festival's name is taken from the title of Fassio's posthumous poetry collection, Nontìscordàrdimé, published by El Doctor Sax in 2021. The event celebrates the creativity and expressive freedom inspired by his legacy, placing poetry at the center as a living language capable of engaging with music, visual arts, and the local territory.

Contemporary arts in the Monferrato hills

For an entire weekend at the end of September, Agliano Terme comes alive with poetry readings, performances, concerts, exhibitions, and workshops. Events are held in iconic local spots: BAart, an exhibition space housed in the former Confraternity of San Michele, the Terrazza La Dolce Vigna, the Locanda San Giacomo, and the charming Piazza San Giacomo. The program blends voices from the contemporary literary scene, experimental musical projects, and performance art, all within the intimate, cozy atmosphere typical of village festivals.

The Ivan Fassio Prize and poetic murals

The heart of the event is the Ivan Fassio Prize, a competition for artists to create a poetic mural inspired by verses from the Nontìscordàrdimé collection. Each edition adds a new work to the scattered path that turns Agliano into an open-air gallery; the town's walls, accompanied by QR codes for visitors, tell Fassio's poetry through the eyes of different artists. Muralists who have contributed include Marco Memeo (2022), Francesco Levi (2023), Gosia Turzeniecka (2024), and Sarah Bowyer (2025).

An event supported by the community

The festival is organized by Spazio Parentesi and the Associazione BarberaAgliano, with the patronage of the Municipality of Agliano Terme and the support of numerous local entities. Admission to events is free, subject to availability, making Nontìscordàrdimé an event open to everyone, uniting the community of this small Piedmontese town through poetry and contemporary art.