What to do in Versilia in Summer 2025?
A night between Renaissance and pop: Will Smith at the BIG Art Festival GALA 2025
On July 25, 2025, the world of art, celebrities, and music lovers will witness an unusual chapter: Will Smith, Hollywood’s top entertainer, will take to the stage at the BIG Art Festival GALA – within the walls of Andrea Bocelli’s historic country estate, the impressive 15th-century Villa Alpebella near Forte dei Marmi.
The setting: Villa Alpebella
Massive stone walls, enchanted gardens, and the southern lightness of Tuscany form the magnificent stage setting. Between centuries-old walls and elegantly illuminated courtyards, the evening breathes life into history and modernity.
Will Smith – The Man Between Worlds
A look at Will Smith is always a reflection of American pop culture: The West Philadelphia native started out as a rapper in the 1990s, transitioned brilliantly into the film world (“Ali,” “Independence Day,” “Men in Black” series), and crowned his career in 2022 with an Oscar for his performance in “King Richard.” His stage presence is legendary – in 2025, he presents himself as a confident showman, oscillating between wit, charm, and sweat-inducing rhythm.
The Evening Schedule
Guests meet at 8:00 p.m. for an aperitif in the garden, surrounded by cypress trees and the scent of a Tuscan summer night. A five-course gala dinner follows at 9:00 p.m. Will Smith takes the stage at 10:00 p.m. Hits from all decades – sung live, accompanied almost meditatively by a live band. Finally, at 11:45 p.m., a DJ takes over, and the dance floor pulsates until the early hours.
Ticket Classes and Inclusive Packages
Admission is divided into three categories:
• Black for €2,500
• Platinum for €1,500
• Gold for €1,100
Each category includes access to the gala program, a select gala dinner, and premium drinks at the table. An elegant evening dress code applies – tuxedos, cocktail dresses, and glamorous makeup for the ladies.
Between History and Pop: A Kaleidoscope
What a Mount Everest of contrasts: a Renaissance estate, an operatic academic (Andrea Bocelli, as host, albeit quietly, in the background), and a modern Hollywood hero as the frontman. It will be an evening that blends tradition and contemporaneity in a Tuscan setting.
With fanfare into the Tuscan summer – Goran Bregović rocks Massa
On Thursday, 31 July 2025, at 9:30 p.m., Piazza Aranci in Massa will become the musical centre of the Massa-Carrara region: Goran Bregović and his legendary Wedding and Funeral Band will take to the stage under the starry sky of Tuscany.
The artist: cosmopolitan sound wizard
Bregović is no ordinary musician, but a living legend of ‘turbo folk,’ that rousing fusion of Eastern European folklore, booming drums, radiant brass and polyphonic Balkan singing. Internationally acclaimed for soundtracks such as ‘Underground’, ‘Arizona Dream’ and ‘The Sound of Bells’, he has been combining the most modern pop and rock elements with ritual traditions for decades – a true sound poet. His Wedding and Funeral Band is not called that for nothing: it celebrates life and mourns it with equal fervour.
Piazza Aranci: Stage under the firmament
Located in the heart of Massa, Piazza Aranci is the centrepiece of the Palcoscenici Stellati 2025 summer series. Here, people cheer, marvel and dance – an open amphitheatre under the Tuscan night sky, ideal for Bregović’s dramatic soundscapes. Surrounded by historic façades and orange groves, the city is transformed into a crackling open-air arena.
Ticket info: From seats to saver prices
There is a charge for the event: tickets are available in the numbered seating area from 20 euros, standing room including ticket fees up to 45 euros. There is a reduced rate for children under 12: £10, bookable exclusively at the theatre box office. So if you bring your family along, you can enjoy Balkan groove at an affordable price.
Palcoscenici Stellati 2025: Cultural summer à la Toscana
The series of events runs from 21 June to 30 August 2025 and includes around 41 events at various, partly iconic locations – Piazza Aranci, Villa Cuturi, Villa Rinchiostra, San Carlo Terme and more. The programme is wide-ranging, from children’s circus to classical concerts, theatre performances and dance performances. Eight top acts are spread out over the summer – including a symphonic Coldplay tribute, an orchestra night with Alessandro Quarta and, of course, Bregović’s spectacular visit to Massa on 31 July.
