Pensavo Peccioli
The festival that explains current events, from the heart of the Valdera
About Pensavo Peccioli
A festival to understand the present
Pensavo Peccioli is the cultural event that transforms the small village of Peccioli, in the Province of Pisa, into a wide-open window on the world every spring. Directed by Luca Sofri, editor-in-chief of the online newspaper Il Post, the festival was born in 2021 from the partnership between the Fondazione Peccioliper and the editorial team of Il Post, with the goal of reporting and explaining current affairs clearly, away from the rush and noise of the news cycle.
For three days, writers, journalists, historians, and key figures in Italian public life take to the village stages to discuss books, information, and the events shaping our world. The very title, "to understand what is happening, to us and the world," encapsulates the spirit of a festival that has made high-quality dissemination its hallmark.
Peccioli, the Tuscan capital of widespread culture
The choice of Peccioli is no coincidence. This municipality in the upper Valdera, Tuscany, has been a national example for years of how a small town can invest in contemporary art, innovation, and culture. The authorial installations scattered throughout the area, the restoration of the historic center, and spaces like the Palazzo Senza Tempo make Peccioli the perfect setting for the festival.
The festival venues
The meetings take place in three locations within the village, all within walking distance of each other:
- Palazzo Senza Tempo, with its panoramic terrace overlooking the valley
- Galleria dei Giganti
- Cinema Passerotti
The heart of the program is "I giornali, spiegati bene" (The newspapers, explained well), the live press review curated by the editorial team of Il Post, which opens the Saturday and Sunday sessions just as it does every morning on the newspaper's website and podcasts.
A program of books, news, and ideas
Each edition brings some of the most prominent names in Italian culture, literature, and journalism to Peccioli: novelists, investigative journalists, historians, public intellectuals, and public figures. Alongside the main events, the festival offers book launches, art and illustration exhibitions, spaces dedicated to children and families, and special moments designed for the most curious audiences.
Admission to all events is free until capacity is reached, a choice that confirms the popular and accessible nature of the event, attracting a large audience from all over Tuscany and beyond.
Pensavo Peccioli — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of Pensavo Peccioli, directed by Luca Sofri and produced with Il Post, brought the village of Peccioli to life from Friday, March 27 to Sunday, March 29, 2026. Three days of meetings, book presentations, and live press reviews held in the spaces of the Palazzo Senza Tempo, the Galleria dei Giganti, and the Cinema Passerotti.
Among the guests of the edition, writers, journalists, and protagonists of Italian public life discussed books, current events, and major themes, from artificial intelligence to history, and from investigative journalism to fiction. The program was enriched by the opening of Alessandro Baronciani's illustration exhibition at the Palazzo Senza Tempo and numerous activities for families and children.
Programme Pensavo Peccioli 2026
Friday, March 27
- 17:00 — Galleria dei Giganti: Walter Veltroni and Eva Giovannini on the Commissario Buonvino series
- 18:00 — Palazzo Senza Tempo: Luca Sofri and Michele Serra between music and storytelling
- 19:00 — Palazzo Senza Tempo: inauguration of the exhibition "Produzione propria" by illustrator Alessandro Baronciani (open until October 25, 2026)
- 21:00 — Palazzo Senza Tempo: Giancarlo De Cataldo and Luca Sofri on investigations and trials
Saturday, March 28
- Morning — "I giornali, spiegati bene", the live press review by Il Post with Luca Sofri and Francesco Costa
- Daytime meetings with Michele Mari, Anna Foa, and Gaja Cenciarelli on books, history, and antisemitism
- Afternoon: Niccolò Ammaniti presents the novel Il custode with Matteo Caccia
- Evening: Pietro Grasso and Stefano Nazzi on the Cosa Nostra maxi-trial
Sunday, March 29
- Morning — "I giornali, spiegati bene" with Luca Misculin
- Stefania Auci presents L'alba dei leoni, a chapter of the Florio saga
- Afternoon: meetings with Chiara Gamberale, Marco Malvaldi, and Silvia Bencivelli
- Closing: Claudio Cerasa and Luca Sofri on L'antidoto
Special activities
- Exhibition "Produzione propria" by Alessandro Baronciani at Palazzo Senza Tempo (March 27 – October 25, 2026)
- Children's area Saturday and Sunday, 15:00-18:00 (Mondobimbi ODV and Libreria Blume)
- Solar observation Saturday, 10:30-13:00 (Associazione Astrofili Alta Valdera)
Highlights Pensavo Peccioli 2026
Prices Pensavo Peccioli 2026
Practical information — Pensavo Peccioli
How to get there
Peccioli is located in the upper Valdera, in the Province of Pisa. By car, it can be reached via the FI-PI-LI highway (Pontedera exit), continuing towards Valdera. The nearest train station is Pontedera-Casciana Terme, connected to Pisa and Florence, from where you can continue by bus or car.
Admission
All meetings are free and open to the public until capacity is reached. For some events, reservations are required, usually activated in the days leading up to the festival on the municipality's online platform.
Tips
We recommend arriving early for the most popular events and taking the opportunity to explore the village's contemporary art installations and the landscapes of the Valdera.
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Where does it take place — Pensavo Peccioli
Palazzo Senza Tempo, Galleria dei Giganti, Cinema Passerotti
Piazza del Popolo, 56037 Peccioli