by PAOLA IACONA

There is a summer that is not limited to the beach, and in Finale Ligure it promises to be a season to be experienced with all the senses: over 180 events until September transform the city, from the sea to the hinterland, into a large open-air stage, where something happens every evening. Among the squares, ancient cloisters, churches overlooking the sea and medieval alleyways, a story comes to life made up of sounds, words, colours and stories.

A calendar designed to appeal to all audiences, from literature enthusiasts to comic book fans, from classical music lovers to those who dream of a night of music under the stars.

July: when culture becomes entertainment

The month of July opens with the magic of words. From 6 July, Un Libro per l’Estate (A Book for the Summer) celebrates its 30th anniversary in the shadow of the Basilica of San Giovanni in Finalmarina: over twenty meetings with big names in Italian journalism and culture, from Milena Gabanelli to Enrico Letta, from Sigfrido Ranucci to Beppe Severgnini.

From 11 to 13 July, it’s time for pure creativity with BURTOMICS Comics & Games: Finalborgo is transformed into a parallel world inhabited by cosplayers, illustrators, cartoonists and gamers, in an explosive mix of fantasy and participation.

And then there is music, which resonates everywhere. Every Monday, the cloisters of Finalpia host the Concerti dell’Abbazia, refined classical music events organised by the Associazione Palma d’Oro. On 18 July, the BRG Orchestra brings swing and South American sounds to the stage, with a repeat performance on 9 August. On 20 July, the season of the Accademia Musicale del Finale opens with the Ligurian Trio feat. Dado Moroni, a famous jazz pianist, who will be the star of an unmissable evening. From 24 July, Pianisticamente Ateneum!, a piano festival, will kick off with a variety of events, including a concert at dawn on the Molo di Finalpia and evocative evening performances in the Giardini Aycardi.

August: big names, intimate atmospheres and journeys through time

In August, music takes you on a journey through time. The Voxonus Festival brings baroque sounds back to two uniquely charming venues: the Church of San Lorenzo in Varigotti and the Forte San Giovanni. The new Musica in Chordis festival offers chamber music concerts in three churches in the hinterland, nestled among woods and stone: the Duo d’Arpe (5 August in Calvisio), the Trio Sarita (11 August in Sant’Eusebio) and the Trio O’Carolan (20 August in San Sebastiano).

On 4 and 11 August, Forte San Giovanni will also come alive with words with Parole antiche per pensieri nuovi (Ancient words for new thoughts), a festival promoted by the Regional Directorate of Museums of Liguria and the Teatro Pubblico Ligure, which intertwines archaeology, philosophy and storytelling: Piergiorgio Odifreddi will open with a talk on Arabic mathematics, followed by Matteo Nucci with a reflection on Homer and the sea, after an archaeological walk through the ruins of the past.

The beat of the city: Finale Music Festival

The beating heart of summer is the Finale Music Festival – Summer Edition, a week of great live music with free admission, from 8 to 16 August, in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II. It kicks off on 8 August with PFM on tour with “Doppia Traccia”, their only date in Liguria, featuring historic songs and those written with Fabrizio De Andrè. On the 11th, La Crus arrive with a concert celebrating thirty years of career. On 14 August, it is the turn of Grido, with a show that traces his solo successes and collaborations with Gemelli Diversi and Articolo 31, accompanied by a special DJ set. Ferragosto lights up the night with a spectacular show by the Rockets, featuring electronic music and lasers, while 16 August closes with an exclusive date for the Gipsy Kings by Diego Baliardo, one of the two Italian dates on their world tour.

Finalborgo: a plunge into the 15th century

From 21 to 24 August, Viaggio nel Medioevo (Journey to the Middle Ages) takes Finalborgo back to the splendour of the 15th century. For four days, the village is dressed in ancient atmospheres with craft markets, juggling and fire shows, ladies and knights, a sumptuous medieval dinner and the spectacular historical re-enactment of the “Final Battle” on the L’Aquila stream, which in 1452 marked the victory of the Marquisate of Finale over the Genoese troops. An experience that enchants thousands of visitors every year.

Palma d’Oro: the elegance of music that unites the world

The summer ends with the excellence of classical music with the 51st edition of the Palma d’Oro International Piano Competition. The competition attracts young talents from all over the world and offers the public not only exciting competitions but also concerts and moments of shared listening in the city’s most symbolic venues and locations.

A summer to be enjoyed every day

And then there is everything else: the initiatives of local associations that enliven the districts of Finalmarina, Finalpia, Finalborgo, Varigotti and the hamlets every evening with shows, markets, workshops for children, cultural meetings and travelling performances. A mosaic of energy that makes Finale Ligure a lively, welcoming and surprising destination, where every day is an opportunity to be amazed.

The complete calendar of events is available at https://visitfinaleligure.it/events