Castle Festival 2026: Medieval Valsolda

Description

La Castle Festival he comes back for his 14th edition in the village of Castello, in Valsolda, Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September 2026. This year's theme is Medieval Valsolda: flavours, music, culture and legend among the alleys and stairways of one of the most scenic villages overlooking the Lake Ceresio.

Two days with different formulas: Music in the village on Saturday, with four bands playing in rotation on stages spread out until late at night; Sunday the medieval village, with archers, knights, historical costumes, and a treasure hunt. Free admission and a free shuttle bus service from the parking lots.

Program for Saturday, September 26th

• 16:00 — Opening of the event, through the streets of the village
• 17:00 — Presentation of the painting “Andromeda Tied to the Rock” by Paolo Pagani, Pagani House Museum
• 18:00 — Music with Fogg's Step, Church Square of San Martino
• 18:30 — Music with Sunrise, near the museum
• 19:00 — Opening of the kitchens
• 19:00 — Music with Jenster, near the Osteria al Nuraghe
• 19:30 — Music with Best from the Past, Piazza Rusciett
• 20:00 — Music with Fogg's Step, Piazza Rusciett
• 20:30 — Music with Sunrise, near the museum
• 21:00 — Music with Jenster, near the Osteria al Nuraghe
• 21:30 — Music with Best from the Past, Piazza Rusciett
• 22:30 — DJ set with Carletto, Capannone

The musical formations

• Fogg's Step, by Luca Carnelli — classical music
• Sunrise — 70s acoustic music
• Jenster — acoustic trio, pop rock
• Best from the Past — Marco Cases on guitar, Sabrina Morganti on vocals
• DJ Carletto — dance revival of the 70s and 80s

Program for Sunday, September 27

• 09:00 — Start of the event: opening of cellars, exhibitions, music and exhibitors along the streets of the village
• 09:00 — Holy Mass, Church of San Martino
• 10:00 —Archers for a day, entrance to the village
• 10:00 — Vestiveo, Oratory
• 11:00 — Assault on the village, through the streets of the village
• 11:00 — ME Bossi Choir, Church of San Martino
• 12:00 — Opening of the kitchens
• 14:00 —Archers for a day, entrance to the village
• 14:00 — Assault on the village, through the streets of the village
• 14:30 — Presentation of the book "Women Who Don't Burn" by Stefania Pedrazzani, Church of San Martino
• 14:30 — Treasure Hunt, Piazza Rusciett
• 16:00 — Valsolda Philharmonic, Piazza Rusciett
• 17:00 — Lottery Drawing, Piazza Rusciett

Medieval activities

• Archers for a Day — Free practice sessions open to the public to try out the historic bow. From 10:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 16:00.
• Vestiveo —an exhibition of 13th-century dress, with the opportunity to try on a historical costume. At the Oratory, starting at 10:00.
• Assault on the village —young knights with swords, shields, and helmets, trained and led by Lord Ranieri di Biandrate. At 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
• Hunt for the fantasy treasure —Treasure hunt through the village streets, in search of a special treasure. Piazza Rusciett, 2:30 PM.

The map of the village

Where to eat

The kitchens open at 7pm on Saturdays and 12pm on Sundays.

• Castle Company — refreshments at the central shed and Osteria del Castello at Rusciett, with Rudi's arrosticini
• The Lantern, Cressogno — cuisine that starts from the simplicity of traditional taverns and expands it with today's creativity
• Osteria al Nuraghe — Sardinian pork and typical Sardinian products
• Crotto Campo — typical cuisine

Exhibitions and displays

Omar Tigrini, “The Possible Man” — An exhibition of artists in residence at CasaPopolare, curated by Rachele Brognoli. A series of pastel works on the contemporary human condition. The exhibition is promoted by the Municipality of Valsolda, the Casa Pagani Museum, and CRiSAC (Center for Research and Development in Contemporary Art).

How to get there and where to park

The village of Castello can be reached from Valsolda, on the Italian shore of Lake Ceresio between Porlezza and the Swiss border.

The parking areas they are located at Lodge (at schools) and Dasio (San Rocco area). From the car parks there is an active free shuttle bus service, in operation for the entire duration of the event.

Those arriving from Switzerland can reach Valsolda from Lugano along the shore of Lake Ceresio, passing through Gandria and Oria.

Useful information

• Input: free
• Opening hoursSaturday from 4:00 PM until approximately 1:00 AM; Sunday from 9:00 AM until the end, after the 5:00 PM lottery draw
• Shuttle bus: free from the Loggio and Dasio car parks, in operation for the entire duration of the event
• In case of rainThe event is still taking place. The program may be subject to change.
• AccessibilityThe village of Castello is made up of stairways and sloping alleys. The route is not suitable for strollers and presents difficulties for those with mobility issues.
• Information: compagniadelcastello@gmail.com
• Organization: Compagnia del Castello, with the patronage of the Municipality of Valsolda and the collaboration of the Pro Loco Valsolda

The village of Castello

The hilltop village of Castello is built with steps atop a cliff overlooking Lake Ceresio, with a view that opens up across the entire lake basin. The name derives from Castrum, the ancient castle that stood at the top of the town, protagonist of the disputes between the Milanese and the people of Como between 1118 and 1127. Over the centuries it was a refuge for brigands and gave shelter to the castellan Stefano Confalonieri of Agliate, implicated in the killing of the Dominican Fra Pietro da Verona in 1252.

Simple at first glance, the Church of San Martino It houses paintings that have earned it the nickname of "Sistine Chapel of Lombardy". The frescoes, dating back to 1697, are the work of Paul Pagani, born in Castello in 1655, an artist who made himself known in the main Italian and European courts and who was an example for many other artists who left Valsolda. Pagani House Museum, named after him, is located in his birthplace.

Who organizes

La Castle Company is the group of volunteers that animates the village of Castello in Valsolda, with the aim of preserving and enhancing the valley's cultural and human heritage, reviving traditions, and creating opportunities for encounters. The profits raised from the events are reinvested in the village: among the projects supported over the years are the restoration of the fresco of San Lucio and that of the Chapel of the Madonna di Tanché in Drano.