Prima del Giro

Prima del Giro: Castellania Coppi celebrates the Campionissimo

Tucked away in the Monferrato hills in the province of Alessandria lies a small village that carries the memory of the greatest cyclist Italy has ever known. Castellania Coppi, the birthplace of Fausto Coppi, has transformed its streets into an open-air museum: his childhood home is now a House Museum, the main street bears his name, and large photographs narrate his story along the lanes. This is where Prima del Giro comes to life, an evening that unites memory, music, literature, and cycling in honor of the Campionissimo.

An evening of words and music

The event is organized in collaboration with the Orchestra in provincia… e non solo! festival and the organizations that keep Fausto Coppi's memory alive: the Serse and Fausto Coppi Promotional Association and the Lions Club Castellania Coppi. The heart of the evening is the show Fausto è una musica (Fausto is a music), which weaves together readings, storytelling, and live performances to reveal not just the champion, but the man, with his vulnerabilities and his human and sentimental side.

The texts are drawn from the book on Coppi by journalist Luciana Rota, a deep expert on the Campionissimo's life. Giving voice and sound to the narrative are singer Flavia Barbacetto and an ensemble of soloists from the Orchestra Classica di Alessandria, creating an evening that blends sporting passion with the emotion of live music.

In the village of Fausto Coppi

Before the show, the village comes alive with the inauguration of a new fountain and a section of paving inspired by the legendary Paris-Roubaix cobbles, a tangible tribute to the history of cycling. This is followed by dinner in the heart of the village, an opportunity to enjoy local dishes in a convivial atmosphere before being swept away by the words and notes of the evening.

More than just a concert, Prima del Giro is a small collective ritual through which Castellania Coppi and the Province of Alessandria, in the heart of Piedmont, renew their bond with their most beloved figure. An event designed for cycling enthusiasts, but also for those wishing to discover an authentic corner of the Monferrato through the story of a timeless legend.