Tra Terra e Stelle — Itinerant Theatre in Borgo a Mozzano

Itinerant theatre rediscovering the villages of inland Tuscany

Tra Terra e Stelle is an itinerant theatre festival that travels through fourteen municipalities between the provinces of Pisa and Lucca, aiming to highlight the oldest villages of the Tuscan hinterland through live performance. The artistic direction is led by Eva Malacarne, with organization by the Compagnia Semi Volanti, supported by the Chamber of Commerce of North-West Tuscany and numerous local foundations. The format is that of itinerant and site-specific theatre: each performance is conceived and adapted for the venue that hosts it, transforming squares, fortresses, and historic corners of the towns into open-air stages.

The event in Borgo a Mozzano

In the municipality of Borgo a Mozzano, in the province of Lucca, the festival stops at the Rocca, one of the most scenic spots in the historic centre of the Serchio Valley. Here, the festival presents one of the shows from the Serchio Valley programme, during an open-air summer evening with free admission. Borgo a Mozzano, famous throughout Tuscany for the nearby Ponte della Maddalena (the so-called Devil's Bridge), confirms itself as one of the key villages in a cultural project that weaves together performance, landscape, and local identity.

A widespread programme across the Pisa, Lucca, and Garfagnana areas

In addition to Borgo a Mozzano, the festival involves municipalities such as Chianni (lead partner), Capannoli, Casciana Terme Lari, Calcinaia, Montopoli in Val d'Arno, Ponsacco, Pontedera, Riparbella, and Volterra in the Pisa area, as well as Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Pieve Fosciana, Fosciandora, and Molazzana in the Garfagnana area of Lucca. The programme features numerous free performances by companies from all over Italy, alongside the Compagnia Semi Volanti.

More than just theatre: workshops, taste, and territory

Tra Terra e Stelle is not just a theatre season, but a widespread cultural project that unites culture, tourism, and local businesses. The programme includes:

• Theatre workshops for adults and children;
• Photography walks and workshops dedicated to the landscape, led by photographer Giacomo Saviozzi;
• Open-air dinners, aperitifs, and tastings of local products;
• Extraordinary museum openings, exhibitions, and guided tours of the villages.

The edition is designed as a complete experience, capable of showcasing the inland areas of Tuscany through live performance, good food, and the discovery of the historical and natural heritage of the Garfagnana and the Pisan hinterland.

Why it's worth it

Attending a Tra Terra e Stelle performance at the Rocca of Borgo a Mozzano means experiencing theatre in an intimate and evocative setting, far from large stages and immersed in the authentic atmosphere of a historic village in the Serchio Valley. The free admission and the hospitality of the small towns of inland Tuscany make the festival a precious opportunity for those who love theatre, slow travel, and places off the beaten path.