Parva Mundi — The Little World Festival
The Little World festival of Don Camillo and Peppone, in Brescello
About Parva Mundi
The Little World Festival
Parva Mundi is the festival that in Brescello, in the Province of Reggio Emilia, celebrates the Little World born from the pen of Giovannino Guareschi and immortalized by the films with Don Camillo and Peppone. For an entire weekend, the small village in Emilia-Romagna, nestled along the banks of the Po, transforms into an open-air narrative space that intertwines tradition, flavors, community, nature, and biodiversity. It is the story of an extraordinary place, the land of the Great River, between embankments, historic villages, churches, and scenic squares that hold a unique heritage of culture, memory, and identity.
Brescello, the village of Don Camillo and Peppone
Brescello is known worldwide as the set for the famous films based on Guareschi's stories: here Fernandel and Gino Cervi gave life to the priest and the communist mayor, eternal rivals and friends. Even today, the village preserves the symbolic places of those stories, from the statue of the Talking Christ to the settings that visitors recognize at first glance. Parva Mundi was created to bring this imaginary world back to life, guiding the public into the everyday life of the Po Valley in the mid-twentieth century.
What to experience during the festival
The days of Parva Mundi are marked by a rich and varied program, designed for families, the curious, and enthusiasts:
- Old-fashioned games and activities for adults and children in the town squares
- Live music, ballroom dancing, and evening concerts
- Guided tours of the Little World locations and the village monuments
- Workshops and ancient crafts, including one dedicated to the Po Valley ocarinas
- Food and wine tastings and typical products of the Bassa reggiana
- Tours on the Po with the motor ship Padus, discovering the Great River
- The Blessing of the Po, a spiritual and identity-building moment linked to local tradition
A territory, an identity
More than just a cinematic re-enactment, Parva Mundi is a tribute to an entire territory: the Bassa del Po in Emilia-Romagna, with its floodplains, its embankments, and its people. The festival promotes the river's biodiversity, local craftsmanship, and the community's historical memory, offering visitors the chance to truly understand the specificity of this corner of the Po Valley. A free event that combines popular culture, landscape, and conviviality.
Parva Mundi — edition 2026
The II edition of Parva Mundi takes place in Brescello from Friday, September 18 to Sunday, September 20, 2026, confirming the appointment with the Little World festival in the land of Don Camillo and Peppone. The village of the Bassa reggiana once again dresses in the colors of the Po Valley to welcome visitors and enthusiasts along the banks of the Po.
The 2026 edition offers old-fashioned games, live music, guided tours, food and wine tastings, and local craft workshops. Among the announced events are the tour on the Po with the motor ship Padus (with connections between Brescello and Boretto), the evocative Blessing of the Po, and workshops on ancient crafts, including one dedicated to the creation of river ocarinas.
Programme Parva Mundi 2026
2026 Program
The festival takes place from Friday, September 18 to Sunday, September 20, 2026, in the historic center of Brescello. The detailed program with times, guests, and concerts will be announced by the organizers in the weeks preceding the event.
Among the events already confirmed for this second edition:
- Tour on the Po with the motor ship Padus — river excursion to discover the Great River, with connections between Brescello and Boretto
- Blessing of the Po — spiritual and traditional moment linked to the territory's identity
- Workshops on ancient crafts — craft demonstrations, including the creation of Po Valley ocarinas
- Market, food and wine tastings, and typical products of the Bassa reggiana
- Guided tours of the Little World locations and live music in the squares
Highlights Parva Mundi 2026
- River tour on the Po with the motor ship Padus
- The traditional Blessing of the Po
- Po Valley ocarina creation workshop
- Old-fashioned games, live music, and tastings in the village of Don Camillo and Peppone
Prices Parva Mundi 2026
Practical information — Parva Mundi
Where
Parva Mundi takes place in the historic center of Brescello (RE), with its heart in Piazza Matteotti. The river tour departs from the motor ship Padus landing, with connections between Brescello and Boretto.
How to get here
By car: Brescello is accessible from the A1 motorway (Parma or Reggio Emilia exit) and the SS62 della Cisa. By train: Parma or Reggio Emilia station, then local buses. The nearest airport is Parma; alternatively, Bologna.
Admission
Access to the festival is free. Some specific activities (like the motor ship tour) may require booking or a contribution.
Information
Brescello Municipal Tourist Office and IAT Guastalla and Bassa reggiana. Email: [email protected]
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Where does it take place — Parva Mundi
Piazza Matteotti e centro storico
Piazza Matteotti, 42041 Brescello