Monferrato ad Alta Voce
Three June days of reading aloud, jazz and theatre in Grazzano Badoglio, each edition built around a single theme and staged in the village's old courtyards and the abbey forecourt.
Why it's special
It's a festival about the spoken word — actors reading, musicians answering — set in the forecourt of the abbey of Sant'Aleramo, high in the Basso Monferrato. Popular in the best sense: mostly free, and meant for everyone.
Programme · 2026
Sixth edition, on the theme 'C'era una volta la Merica', exploring Italian–American connections through literature and music. Theatrical readings, jazz concerts and literary performances in scenic locations including the forecourt of the Abbey of Sant'Aleramo. Directed by actor Marco Pagani organised by the comune with the Paul Valéry free-thinkers association. Mostly free admission.
- Most events are free.
- The atmospheric setting is the forecourt of the Abbazia di Sant'Aleramo — come up early and the drive over the ridge is half the pleasure.
- Programme at monferratoadaltavoce.it.
The name says it plainly — Monferrato out loud. For three days in June Grazzano Badoglio hands its courtyards and the forecourt of the abbey of Sant'Aleramo over to people reading, and to musicians answering them: an actor with a book, a jazz trio, a theme that ties the weekend together.
It was started in 2021 and has kept its footing as a popular festival rather than a smart one — most of it is free, and it's built to be walked into. The setting does a lot of the work; you're high on a Basso Monferrato ridge, and the light goes gold behind the readings.
The year's theme, dates and line-up are at monferratoadaltavoce.it. Concrete dates above.