Peppone and Don Camillo: the reenactment takes Brescello back to the post-war period / Photo

Brescello (Reggio Emilia), 21 September 2025 – Brescello has gone back in time, not only to the years when it was the set of the Peppone and Don Camillo films (photo) , but even to the first post-war elections almost 80 years ago, with a polling station in the square to elect the mayor, Giuseppe Bottazzi , the famous Peppone from the films based on the stories of Giovannino Guareschi.

And the town was filled with an air of times gone by, with vintage cars, costumed characters , historical settings, exhibition stands, shows, music, photography and art exhibitions. All of this was part of the Parva Mundi festival program, held in Brescello. Saturday evening was marked by the now traditional procession of the Talking Christ .

After the mass in church, the long procession headed to the mouth of the Enza , where the stream flows into the Po. And in front of the great river, the blessing was imparted with the local authorities and many citizens.

And on Sunday, the election reenactments took place, with the nomination of 'Peppone' as mayor, who won with 87% of the vote . Then came a tour of the town with the mayor (accompanied by the real-life mayor, Carlo Fiumicino) to celebrate the electoral success. Scenes from the films were reenacted , with Peppone's speech (announcing the construction of the Casa del Popolo) interrupted by the ringing of Don Camillo's bells , and the rush home to hear the news of his son's birth. All this in front of thousands of people who, over the course of three days, packed the town of Giovannino Guareschi's "Little World."

14 photos

Article Tags