Doors that open only on special occasions, cloisters full of charm, and abbeys that seem to have stepped from another era. Monasteri Aperti 2026 makes a return and comes back on Saturday, October 10 and Sunday, October 11 with one final weekend to explore. After the success of the past days, Emilia-Romagna unveils more hidden little treasures, from Rimini to Parma, among towns, ancient monasteries, and places where time appears to have stood still. The plan? Visits, special events, and the chance to peek into spaces usually off-limits. In short, the perfect itinerary for a weekend decidedly out of the ordinary.
Monasteri Aperti 2026, how to participate
On October 10 and 11 the curtain falls on the eighth edition of Monasteri Aperti, which this year celebrates Saint Francis of Assisi with a calendar of experiences spanning art, history, and spirituality. The programme ranges from strolling through cloisters to nature walks, up to visits to abbeys that tell centuries of monastic life. And how to participate? It depends on the stop: some events are free, others require a voluntary contribution or an entrance ticket. Before you set off, therefore, it’s wise to check the official website to discover prices, reservations, and access procedures.
Which places to visit
In Rimini the Clarissan Monastery opens its doors, and it is one of the most distinctive highlights of the entire programme. In the historic centre, the and certain areas of the monastery complex become the focus of a guided tour led by the cloistered nuns themselves. The visits are scheduled for Saturday, October 10 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM, and Sunday, October 11 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, with a free-will offering.
If you prefer an experience with a soundtrack decidedly out of the ordinary, head to Torrechiara, in the province of Parma. On Saturday, October 10, at 5:30 PM, the Benedictine Abbey of Santa Maria della Neve hosts Gloriosus Franciscus, a concert by the Ensemble Anonima Frottolisti from Assisi. The repertoire traverses the music dedicated to Saint Francis from the 13th to the 16th century, mixing medieval and Renaissance sounds. Admission is by free-will offering.
There are also culinary experiences on offer. In Torrechiara (in the Parma area) on October 11, you eat in the Abbey refectory, with a menu prepared by the nuns. The day begins at 10 with a visit to the monastery, the church, and the belvedere overlooking the stream. At 12:30 lunch arrives, followed by the opportunity to discover the artisanal products from the beekeeping workshop. The guided tour costs €15, while the full experience with lunch costs €40 per person. Booking is mandatory at 328 2250714, via WhatsApp or SMS. If you can’t participate this weekend, the initiative is also scheduled for Sundays October 18 and 25.
Staying in the Parma area, the Monastery of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Busseto also deserves attention. On Sunday, October 11, from 10:30, the event Gloriosus Franciscus tells of the connection between the Franciscans, art, and the life of the local community. The programme includes guided tours to discover the church, a lunch in the sixteenth-century cloister, and the music of the Ensemble Anonima Frottolisti. Participation in the event is listed as free on the regional portal; check with the organizers the conditions for the lunch.
In Bobbio, in the Piacenza area, we go back more than a thousand years. On Sunday, October 11 at 12, the Abbey of San Colombano offers a guided tour of about an hour, between the Basilica, the crypt with the tomb of the Irish saint, and the abbey museum.
For those who love elevated views, Piacenza offers Mirabili Prospettive again, the experience that allows climbing the Cupola del Guercino inside the Cathedral and the Cupola del Pordenone inside the Basilica of Santa Maria di Campagna. Two masterpieces to be admired from an unusual perspective, with a view over the city. Openings are scheduled also for Saturday, October 10 and Sunday, October 11: the Cupola del Guercino can be visited from 12:00 to 17:30, with a guided visit at 16:30, while the Cupola del Pordenone has guided climbs at 16:00 and 17:00. The combined ticket costs €15.
The journey continues in Romagna, where Brisighelle opens the Convento dell’Osservanza on Sunday, October 11, from 10:00 to 19:00. Here you can explore the Franciscan Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, the Cloister of the Olive Trees, and the ancient refectories used by the friars until 2015. The visits are organized by Pro Loco together with volunteers and the religious paths Viae Misericordiae, with starting point at the entrance on Via Fratelli Cardinali Cicognani 31. An itinerary interesting also to discover a lesser-known side of the medieval village.
Those who truly want to follow in Saint Francis’ footsteps on Sunday, October 11 at 3:30 PM can join the event at Villa Verrucchio di Valmarecchia, where visitors are guided to one of the region’s oldest Franciscan sites. Here you can discover the cloister that houses the cypress which, according to tradition, would have sprouted from the staff planted in the ground by the Saint.
In Argenta, in the Ferrara province, at 4:00 PM a route focusing on the presence of Minor Conventuals and Capuchins in local history begins, from the former convent to the Civic Museum. The indicated cost is €5.
Those seeking something alternative can also head to Parma, where the Santuario di San Francesco del Prato offers the free narrative path Francesco va’ e ripara la mia casa. The sessions, lasting about two hours, are scheduled for Saturday at 10:00 and 16:00 and Sunday at 16:00, guided by friars and volunteers.
