From 8 to 14 July 2026, “Art Nouveau Week” returns – the major international festival dedicated to Art Nouveau and the decorative arts, promoted by the Italia Liberty association and curated by Professor Andrea Speziali. Now in its eighth edition, the event transforms Italy into an open-air museum through guided tours, conferences, exhibitions, cultural itineraries, immersive experiences and artistic activities dedicated to the Belle Époque.

The central theme of the 2026 edition will be ‘The Sea’, a symbolic element that runs through the European Art Nouveau imagination and serves as the central thread of a narrative exploring the relationship between art, landscape, tourism and modernity from the late 19th century to the early decades of the 20th century.

The turret of the Art Nouveau villa

On Saturday 11 July at 9.00 am, the Italia Liberty Association is organising a guided walk to explore the Art Nouveau architecture and artistic heritage of Follonica.

The tour begins at the First World War War Memorial, a symbolic site that introduces participants to the town’s historical and cultural context during the early decades of the 20th century. From here, the tour proceeds through the town centre to explore some of the most interesting examples of Follonica’s modernist architecture.

One of the first stops is Villa Benedetti, situated on Via Battisti opposite the church of San Leopoldo. Built in the early 20th century, the villa combines eclectic elements with Art Nouveau decoration, standing out for the elegance of its forms and the attention to ornamental detail.

Continuing towards the seafront, you reach Villa Sant’Anna, one of the town’s best-known historic residences. Built in the 1920s, it is characterised by its striking layout and Art Nouveau decorative motifs, among which the distinctive octagonal turret that defines its architectural silhouette stands out.

The itinerary concludes at Villa Monciatti, on Via Bicocchi. The building combines neoclassical influences, neo-Gothic elements and Art Nouveau decorations, particularly evident in the cast-iron details that evoke Follonica’s industrial heritage.
Taken together, these buildings illustrate the original way in which the town interpreted the Art Nouveau style, adapting it to its own urban context and to the housing needs of the time.

Useful information
Date: Saturday 11 July
Time: 9.00 am
Meeting point: Piazza Vittorio Veneto, Follonica
Duration: approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes
Cost: €20 (€18 for members of Italia Liberty and the Touring Club Italiano)
Free: children under 8 years of age
Guide: Elena Innocenti, qualified tour guide

Book at elenainnocenti@italialiberty.it | (+39) 349 4745198 The tour will go ahead provided a minimum of 8 participants is reached. Booking is compulsory by 8 July 2026 at the latest. For groups of more than 10 people, the use of radio guides will be compulsory (cost: €1.50 per person)
For a pre-arranged private group of up to 30 people, the total cost of the tour is €280