Mercantia Festival 2027 – Certaldo, Italy

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Mercantia Festival 2027 – Certaldo, Italy is the most important International Festival of Street Artists in Italy and one of the best street theatre festivals in Europe. Known as the International Festival of Fourth Theater, Mercantia transforms the medieval hilltop town of Certaldo Alto into a magical open-air stage. Expect an evening of walking, stopping, looking around, listening and discovering performances as you move through brick streets, small piazzas, stone steps and hidden corners.

The festival presents approximately 100 acts each night, with over 400 national and international artists throughout the week. Shows include dance, visual arts, street band shows, parades, puppet shows, shadow theater, magicians, jugglers, dances with fire, musical performances, processions of drummers, singer-storytellers for the youngest visitors, tightrope walkers and trapeze artists who defy gravity, clowns, comedians, contortionists, acrobats, puppeteers and ventriloquists. There is no single stage and no fixed way to experience the event. Instead, the town itself becomes the setting, with performances spread across streets, squares, alleyways, courtyards, towers, gardens and even the underground.

Expect handmade crafts and live demonstrations alongside performances. More than 100 selected artisans present handmade creations including hand-made jewellery, clothing, masks, art, herbal remedies, beauty products, hand-crafted leatherware and shoes. The craft market reinforces the identity of Mercantia as a place where art, performance, creativity and popular celebration meet. In Certaldo Basso, the lower modern town, street stalls with free access add to the festive atmosphere, while inside Certaldo Alto the experience is more curated and immersive.

행사 일정

공식 날짜: 2027년 7월 (날짜 미정)
판본: 39th edition
위치: Certaldo Alto, Certaldo, Province of Florence, Tuscany
Main Hours: 6:00 PM to 1:00 AM, with extended closing until 1:30 AM on final night
Children’s Programme: La Mercantia dei Bambini in Piazza Boccaccio and Via II Giugno, Certaldo Bassa, free admission
웹사이트: https://www.mercantiacertaldo.it/
연락처: +39 0571 661219
주최자: Terzostudio with artistic direction of Alessandro Gigli

The event runs for five nights, turning Certaldo into a lively summer destination between Florence and Siena. Ticket revenue is limited in number to preserve the magical atmosphere and helps support the organization of increasingly magical live performances throughout Certaldo Alto.

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공연장 및 공연장

주요 공연장: Certaldo Alto, the ancient upper town, the most scenic part of Certaldo with brick streets, historic buildings, narrow passageways and views over the surrounding Tuscan countryside. The town is surrounded by medieval walls and consists of two parts, Certaldo Alto on the hilltop and Certaldo Basso, the modern part in the valley below.

Performance Locations:

• Streets and Squares: Main arteries become open stages for street bands, parades and fire dancers
• Courtyards: Hidden courtyards host stages for clowns, comedians and intimate theatre
• Gardens and Towers: Elevated spaces for aerial performers holding hands above brick buildings and acrobats near historic facades
• Museums and Historical Buildings: Interior spaces for puppet shows, shadow theater and experimental theatre
• Underground and Hidden Corners: Unexpected locations for installations and immersive performances
• Piazza Boccaccio: Central square in Certaldo Bassa, location of ticket office opposite Town Hall and children’s free programme
• Via del Castello and Lower Terminus of Funicular: Entry points with ticket checking counters

Access to Certaldo Alto: The upper town can be accessed easily by funicular from Certaldo Bassa or on foot via historic paths. The funicular is especially practical and scenic, connecting lower and upper towns.

전체 프로그램

Concept: Mercantia was born in 1988 under the name Teatralfestamercatomedievale and has grown into one of Italy’s best-known street theater festivals. The heart of the festival is the idea that there is no fixed route. Visitors walk from one performance to another, discovering artists in squares, musicians along streets, acrobats near historic facades and theatrical scenes appearing in unexpected corners.

프로그램 구성:

• Street Theatre: Dance, cabaret, experimental theater, mime, clown, acrobatics, aerial performances, soap bubbles and visual installations
• Music: Street bands, processions of drummers, singer-storytellers, live music stages and contemporary sound performances
• Circus Arts: Jugglers, fire artists, tightrope walkers, trapeze artists, contortionists and illusionists
• Family Programme: Puppet shows, storytellers for children, games and entertainment created especially for younger visitors in the free area in Certaldo Bassa
• Craftsmanship: More than 100 selected artisans presenting handmade creations and live demonstrations

Nightly Flow: The pleasure is partly in not knowing what comes next. You might leave a musical performance and a few minutes later find an artist suspended above the street, a theatrical scene staged in a tiny alley or a visual installation created for that exact medieval backdrop.

주요 공연 및 출연진

예술 감독: Artistic director Alessandro Gigli curates a selection of artists of national and international fame, ready to leave their mark with innovative language. Organization of shows by Terzostudio ensures high quality and diversity.

Performer Profile: Approximately 400 artists from Italy and across Europe and beyond, including street performers, acrobats, musicians, dancers, puppeteers, magicians, fire eaters and contemporary circus artists. Previous editions have included street art stars, comedy of Paolo Migone, experimental theatre companies and emerging street bands.

Performance Styles:

• Fourth Theater Concept: Blurring boundaries between theatre, street art, circus and visual performance, creating immersive encounters
• International Acts: Companies from France, Spain, Germany, South America and other regions bringing diverse traditions of street performance
• Local Tuscan Talent: Tuscan street artists, musicians and artisans deeply connected to regional culture
• Children’s Artists: Dedicated storytellers, puppet masters and entertainers for La Mercantia dei Bambini

Signature Acts: Expect to see performers in costumes wandering the streets, often wearing stilts and dressed as clouds, fire dancers creating light trails against brick walls and aerial performers suspended above medieval buildings.

공연 및 공연

Variety: With approximately 100 acts each night, Mercantia presents performances from over 400 artists. Shows go from early evening to late night, creating a continuous flow of entertainment.

For Adults: Experimental theater, contemporary dance, fire shows, aerial acrobatics, cabaret, mime, illusion and live music performances in intimate courtyards and grand squares.

For Children: Dedicated storytellers who tell tales to youngest visitors, puppet shows, shadow theater, clown performances, interactive games and hands-on craft activities in the free children’s area. This family-friendly focus makes Mercantia one of the most inclusive street festivals.

For Art Lovers: Visual installations, soap bubble artists, street art exhibitions, handmade craft demonstrations and immersive theatrical encounters that use the medieval village as natural scenography.

공연 일정

Evening Schedule: The festival runs from 6:00 PM to 1:00 AM each evening, with the final evening extending to 1:30 AM for closing celebrations. The early hours from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM are ideal for families and craft market exploration, while 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM hosts main stage performances and 11:00 PM to 1:00 AM features late-night fire shows and music.

Suggested Flow: Visitors are encouraged to arrive early, collect a programme map at the ticket office in Piazza Boccaccio, take the funicular to Certaldo Alto and wander freely. No single itinerary is recommended, as discovery is central to the experience.

Children’s Schedule: La Mercantia dei Bambini operates in Piazza Boccaccio and Via II Giugno in Certaldo Bassa with afternoon and early evening shows, allowing families to enjoy performances before heading to the upper town.

티켓 종류

일반 입장권: Tickets are required for Certaldo Alto where main performances take place. Based on previous editions, pricing converted to USD is as follows. Single evening tickets start at $14.04 plus fees for standard nights. Saturday peak night tickets start at $16.20 plus fees. Reduced tickets for children range from $8.10 to $16.20 depending on the night. Adult tickets range from $10.80 to $21.60.

Passes: The 4-day pass excluding Saturday starts at $43.20 plus fees. The full 5-day pass starts at $56.16 plus fees. The 5-day pass offers best value for visitors planning to attend multiple evenings. Group rates are available for organized groups.

Free Areas: Certaldo Basso, including Piazza Boccaccio and Via II Giugno, street stalls selling handmade products, herbal remedies, beauty products, leatherware and the children’s programme area are free with no ticket required. No ticket is required for street stalls in Certaldo Basso.

Online Purchase: Tickets are available online via authorized reseller and at the ticket office in Piazza Boccaccio opposite Town Hall and at lower terminus of funicular railway and in Via del Castello. Online purchases may include additional booking fees.

티켓 발매 및 예약

Online Release: Tickets are released online several weeks before the festival via the official website https://www.mercantiacertaldo.it/. The festival has become so popular that the number of participants is now limited, so early online purchase is strongly recommended.

On-Site Purchase: The ticket office is located in Piazza Boccaccio opposite Town Hall and at lower terminus of funicular. Additional ticket checking counters are located at Via del Castello. On-site tickets are subject to availability and may sell out on peak nights.

예약 관련 조언: Purchase online to guarantee entry, especially for Saturday night which traditionally has highest demand. Keep QR code or printed ticket for funicular check and entry gates.

Children’s Tickets: Children under a certain height often receive reduced pricing. The free children’s area requires no ticket but may require registration for specific workshops.

VIP 및 프리미엄 좌석

Intimate Seating: Most performances are standing or informal seating on steps, walls and courtyard floors, creating an egalitarian street theatre atmosphere. There is no formal VIP seating, as the festival emphasizes accessibility and shared experience.

프리미엄 경험: Premium experiences include guided tours with artistic director, meet-and-greet with performers, reserved spots in courtyard theatres and access to exclusive terraces overlooking performances. These are organized through Terzostudio and must be requested via the official contact +39 0571 661219.

Group and Accessibility Seating: Reserved areas for elderly visitors and those with mobility needs are available in main squares. Contact the organizer in advance for assistance.

이벤트 규칙

Limited Capacity: The number of participants is now limited to preserve the magical atmosphere and safety within medieval walls. Entry may be temporarily paused when Certaldo Alto reaches capacity.

Time Rules: Shows run from 6:00 PM to 1:00 AM. Visitors should respect performance spaces, not cross barriers and follow instructions from staff and volunteers.

사진: Personal photography without flash is allowed. Professional photography, tripods and video recording for commercial use require accreditation from press office.

Respect for Heritage: Certaldo Alto is a historic village with fragile brick walls and stone steps. Visitors are asked to respect historic buildings, not climb on monuments and dispose of waste properly.

자녀: Children must be accompanied by adults in the upper town during evening hours. The free children’s area in Certaldo Bassa offers a safer, more relaxed environment for younger visitors.

가는 방법

위치: Certaldo is located in the province of Florence, in a convenient position between Florence, Siena and San Gimignano, just 35 kilometers southwest of Florence.

기차 이용 시: Certaldo station is on the Florence-Siena line. Trains run from Florence Santa Maria Novella in approximately 50 to 60 minutes. From the station, take local bus, funicular or walk to historic center.

자가용으로: From Florence, take the FI-SI superstrada to Poggibonsi then SP to Certaldo. From Siena, take FI-SI north to Poggibonsi. Parking areas are located in Certaldo Bassa near funicular station and at the base of the hill.

By Funicular: One of the easiest and most scenic ways to reach Certaldo Alto is by funicular connecting lower town with upper medieval center. The funicular is especially practical during festival as Certaldo Alto sits above modern town. View from Certaldo Alto toward lower town and Tuscan hills is spectacular.

대중교통 및 주차

대중교통: Local buses operated by Autolinee Toscane connect Certaldo station to funicular terminus and surrounding villages. During festival, additional shuttle services connect parking areas to funicular. Bus tickets cost approximately $1.62 to $3.24.

주차: Large parking areas are available in Certaldo Bassa near funicular station and at Via del Castello entrance. Parking fees range from $1.08 per hour to $10.80 per day. During peak nights, parking fills early, so arrival before 6:00 PM is recommended.

걷기: Certaldo Alto itself is entirely walkable with no vehicle access during festival hours. Comfortable shoes are essential for brick streets and stone steps.

Taxis: Taxis from Florence or Siena cost approximately $75.60 to $108.00 one way. Shared transfers organized by local hotels are often more economical.

숙박 구역

Certaldo Alto: Staying inside medieval walls offers immediate proximity to performances. Small boutique hotels and historic residences range from $86.40 to $172.80 per night. Early booking is essential as capacity is very limited.

Certaldo Bassa: Modern lower town offers business hotels, B&Bs and apartments within walking distance to funicular, from $64.80 to $129.60 per night. Ideal for families using children’s free area in Piazza Boccaccio.

Nearby Towns: San Gimignano, 20 minutes away, offers medieval tower hotels from $108.00 to $216.00 per night. Poggibonsi and Barberino Val d’Elsa offer countryside agriturismos from $75.60 to $151.20 per night with pool and vineyard views.

Florence and Siena: Many visitors base themselves in Florence or Siena and travel to Certaldo for evening performances. Florence hotels range from $108.00 to $270.00 per night during summer season.

식사 및 다과

토스카나 요리: Certaldo and surrounding area offer classic Tuscan dishes including ribollita, pappa al pomodoro, bistecca alla fiorentina, pici pasta and local Chianti wines. The town is known as birthplace of Giovanni Boccaccio, author of Decameron, adding literary flavor to dining.

Festival Food: Street stalls in Certaldo Basso and Certaldo Alto offer quick meals, handmade gelato, fried delicacies, local cheeses and craft beers. Prices from $5.40 to $12.96 for street food.

레스토랑: In Certaldo Alto, trattorias in historic buildings serve full meals with terrace views. Prices for a full meal range from $21.60 to $43.20 per person. In Certaldo Basso, pizzerias and osterias offer more casual dining from $13.50 to $24.30.

Refreshments: Bars remain open until late during festival, serving aperitivo and cocktails. Night scene with colorful balloons, lights and crowds in front of medieval buildings creates magical dining atmosphere.

접근성

Terrain: Certaldo Alto has cobblestone streets, stone steps and steep inclines that may be challenging for visitors with mobility limitations. The funicular provides accessible access from lower to upper town, but some interior streets remain difficult.

Accessible Services: Reserved viewing areas are available in main squares. Accessible restrooms are located near ticket office and main venues. Staff provide assistance upon request via +39 0571 661219.

Children’s Area: La Mercantia dei Bambini in Piazza Boccaccio and Via II Giugno is fully accessible, flat and free, offering easier navigation for strollers and wheelchairs.

Recommendations: Visitors with mobility needs should contact organizer in advance, arrive early to secure accessible spots and consider attending early evening performances when crowds are lighter.

참석할 만한 최고의 공연

Aerial Performers: Don’t miss aerial performers holding hands above brick buildings, a signature visual of Mercantia that combines acrobatics with medieval architecture.

Fire Shows: Fire dancers and dances with fire in late-night squares create dramatic light effects against warm brick walls, ideal for photography and immersive experience.

Street Band Parades: Processions of drummers and street marching bands move through streets, engaging audiences and leading them from one performance area to another.

Storytellers and Puppet Shows: For families, singer-storytellers who tell tales to youngest visitors and traditional puppet shows preserve oral storytelling traditions linked to Boccaccio’s legacy.

Hidden Courtyard Theatre: Seek out experimental theater in hidden corners and courtyards where small audiences experience intimate, powerful performances away from main crowds.

전년도 하이라이트

The most recent edition marked the 38th year of Mercantia, a strong sign of how much this event has become part of cultural identity of Certaldo and Tuscan summer calendar. The historic upper town became an open-air stage with performances spread across streets, squares, alleyways, courtyards and hidden corners.

Highlights included the debut of La Mercantia dei Bambini, a new program designed for children and families in Piazza Boccaccio and Via II Giugno, open and free with no ticket required, making the festival more accessible. More than 100 selected artisans presented handmade creations and live demonstrations, reinforcing the festival’s identity as a place where art, performance, creativity and popular celebration meet.

The festival continued its tradition of transforming Certaldo Alto into a place where travelers experience Tuscany differently, staying into the night, following rhythm of festival and letting town reveal itself slowly, rather than simply visiting during day for photos.

공식 티켓

공식 웹사이트: https://www.mercantiacertaldo.it/
연락처: +39 0571 661219
Ticket Office Location: Piazza Boccaccio opposite Town Hall, lower terminus of funicular railway and Via del Castello
Online Tickets: Available via official authorized ticket reseller linked from website
Pricing in USD: Single evening tickets from $14.04, Saturday peak $16.20, 4-day pass excluding Saturday from $43.20, full 5-day pass from $56.16, children reduced $8.10 to $16.20, plus booking fees. Prices converted from EUR.
Free Areas: Certaldo Basso stalls, children’s programme in Piazza Boccaccio and Via II Giugno, street stalls selling jewellery, clothing, masks, art, herbal remedies, beauty products, leatherware and shoes in lower town require no ticket.

Purchase through official channels only to avoid counterfeit tickets. Limited capacity means early booking is essential.

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