The Romantic Night in the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy – Volpedo

The most romantic night in Italy's villages

The Romantic Night in the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy is an event that, on a single evening in late June, simultaneously illuminates over two hundred villages across the peninsula with a unique atmosphere of soft lights, live music, and toasts under the stars. In Volpedo, a small town in the Curone Valley in the province of Alessandria, in the heart of Piedmont, the initiative has become one of the most anticipated summer events, transforming the cobblestone streets of the historic center into an open-air stage.

The village of Pellizza da Volpedo

Volpedo is no ordinary village: it was here in 1868 that Giuseppe Pellizza da Volpedo, the creator of the famous painting The Fourth Estate, was born. The town still preserves the painter's studio and numerous locations that inspired his canvases, nestled in the hilly landscape of the Tortona area. Officially included in the list of The Most Beautiful Villages of Italy, Volpedo combines art, history, and a solid food and wine tradition, starting with the rare Montebore cheese, a Slow Food presidium with its characteristic wedding-cake shape.

An evening throughout the historic center

The program in Volpedo unfolds throughout the evening and involves the entire village. From early evening, local establishments offer themed aperitifs and dinners: past editions have featured Bar Aramali, Bar Fortuna, Bar Italia, Agriturismo La Collina di Aurosa, and Pizzeria Il Borgo. The cultural heart of the evening is the Penati Malaspina Castle, open for guided tours in the evening, while the park hosts an evocative outdoor dinner with music, art exhibitions, and the famous Montebore gnocchi.

The midnight toast

As in all participating villages, the highlight is the collective toast that, late at night, ideally unites Volpedo with the other most beautiful villages in Italy. In Volpedo, the toast takes place on the panoramic terrace of the Hub on Via Mazzini, offering a sweeping view of the surrounding countryside.

The 2026 theme: the love for memories

The eleventh national edition, scheduled for Saturday, June 20, 2026, has chosen as its guiding theme The Love for Memories: an invitation to rediscover one's roots, traditions, and flavors capable of uniting different generations. A perfect setting for Volpedo, where the memory of the territory and the artistic legacy of Pellizza naturally intertwine with the festivities.

• Evening guided tours of the Penati Malaspina Castle
• Dinner in the park with Montebore gnocchi and live music
• Aperitifs and dinners in the historic center's establishments
• Collective toast on the panoramic terrace
• Atmosphere of soft lights and torches along the village streets