Val Tidone Festival — Calendasco Stop

A Sunset Concert on the Po

Among the many stops of the Val Tidone Festival, the one in Calendasco, a small town in the Province of Piacenza overlooking the great river, is one of the most scenic. The concert is held at the Guado di Sigerico, the historic crossing point of the Po River along the Via Francigena, in a natural setting where music accompanies the sunset over the water. The atmosphere here is reminiscent of the village festivals of yesteryear, but with the artistic quality of a review that has been a benchmark for musical Emilia-Romagna for almost thirty years.

A Travelling Festival in the Valley

The Val Tidone Festival does not have a single venue: it is a travelling event that crosses the municipalities of Val Tidone and Val Luretta every summer, from Agazzano to Borgonovo, from Castel San Giovanni to Pianello, including Calendasco and Rottofreno, as well as Piacenza city. The idea, conceived in the late nineties, is to build a network among the small towns in the valley to combine resources and create significant cultural initiatives: a model that has become a benchmark in the Piacenza area.

Genres and Atmosphere

The Calendasco stop has a particular focus on folk and popular music. Over the years, the Guado di Sigerico has hosted groups with Irish, rock, reggae, and ska influences, perfect for an outdoor evening by the river. The audience often arrives early to enjoy the sunset and then stays for dinner in the local clubs, in a convivial atmosphere that is an integral part of the experience.

Organization and Context

The review is promoted by the Fondazione Val Tidone Musica, based in Sarmato, and is made possible thanks to the support of the Fondazione di Piacenza e Vigevano and the participating municipalities. The festival was born in close connection with the prestigious Val Tidone International Music Competitions, from which young talents often emerge to perform at the various stops. The artistic direction is curated by Livio Bollani.

Why It's Worth It

• Free evening concert in a unique natural location, the Guado di Sigerico on the Po River
• Intimate and popular atmosphere, far from the big stages
• Opportunity for dinner in the local clubs, by reservation
• Part of a quality review that has enlivened the Piacenza summer for almost thirty years

For those who want to discover the Bassa Piacentina and the Via Francigena through music, the Calendasco evening is a perfect opportunity: few things tell the Emilia summer better than a folk concert on the banks of the Po at sunset.