All those, whether locals or holidaymakers, who find themselves in Carro during the summer period, more specifically from mid-July to mid-August, can enjoy concerts with musicians of international standing at the Paganini Festival in Carro. But it is not only the Maestro’s notes that fill the hamlet’s summer air. There are several musical events that bring the village to life every year, such as jazz concerts organised by the Proloco or the evenings dedicated to ballroom dancing.
Music is truly at home in Carro. It is possible, that walking up to the hamlet of Castello, along a road lined with magnificent chestnut trees, visitors might have the good fortune to become the protagonist of a musical improvisation in the village association, or enjoy moving pieces of sacred music from the picturesque birthplace of St. Antonio Maria Giannelli, the patron saint of Val di Vara who lived in a rural house surrounded by olive trees in the hamlet of Cerreta.

In what was once the home of his ancestors, you can enjoy a memorable experience discovering Niccolò Paganini, his history and, of course, his music, thanks to a route that blends history, emotions and technology. Augmented and virtual reality, an immersive room, in-depth applications for young and old, and dedicated spaces for music lovers. A combination of the magic of notes and the fairytale setting of the Val di Vara, created to transport visitors into the legend of the ‘Devil’s Fiddler’.

The Paganini Festival of Carro is a classical music festival dedicated to the figure of the famous violinist and composer Niccolò Paganini. Coordinated by the Società dei Concerti di La Spezia, in collaboration with the Municipality, the Tourist Board and the Friends of the Festival Association, the event opens in mid-July and ends on 14 August, providing visitors the opportunity to hear internationally renowned artists and young talents. Founded in 2001, the Festival winds its way through the hamlets of the Val di Vara, an area where nature has remained unspoilt and traditions continue to be respected.

The festival begins and ends in the picturesque hamlet of Carro, the birthplace of the great violinist’s ancestors, as can be seen by a house that belonged to Paganini’s family. The Paganini Festival of Carro is one of the most important events of the European Paganini Route.