Busto Arsizio honors St. Francis with BA800 cultural programme

Busto Arsizio pays tribute to St. Francis with the BA800 cultural programme

On the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’s death, Busto Arsizio has launched a programme of cultural events aimed at promoting values of fraternity, peace and solidarity. The calendar, called "BA800 – Culture for Francis", is organised by the municipal administration together with the Secular Franciscan Order and the Convent of the Sacred Heart of the Friars Minor.

• 22 March 2026 – screening of Roberto Rossellini’s film "Francesco Giullare di Dio" as part of the BA Film Festival.
• 12 April 2026 – Peace march "Walking in the name of Francis," with about 500 participants through the town centre.
• 31 May 2026 – Madonnari in Piazza. Francis and Mary, via Cavallotti: pavement artists from 09:00 to 18:00 and a chalk workshop for children and teens at 16:00.
• 17 June 2026, 21:00 – theatre-song performance "Lu Santo Jullare Francesco" by Dario Fo, performed by Mario Pirovano, in the square of the Church of the Sacred Heart (in case of rain, in Sala Pro Busto).

The programme is integrated with cultural festivals supported by the local culture department and seeks to use culture as a tool for dialogue and the diffusion of Franciscan ideals, especially among younger audiences.