On Saturday 31 October 2026 (from 6.00 pm onwards), an entire village will be transformed into a themed setting centred on ‘history, mysteries and terror’, featuring nightmarish characters who really existed: from Jack the Ripper to Leonarda Cianciulli.
Halloween is fast approaching, and in Castelfiorentino, the fear will come straight from… history! On Saturday 31 October (from 6.00 pm) the entire village will be transformed into “CastelloFobia”, with themed displays and performances, but above all thanks to the open-air “Escape Room” which, from 9.00 pm, will open its doors to bring to life a nightmarish trail, where the protagonists will be dozens of real-life figures who are sure to surprise visitors.
The ‘map’ of this horror trail is still top secret, but we can give you a few hints: there will, of course, be Jack the Ripper, the first serial killer in modern history, who, between the summer and autumn of 1888, murdered five women (to limit ourselves to the confirmed victims) in London’s Whitechapel district. But there will also be a no less disturbing female counterpart, entirely Italian, named Leonarda Cianciulli – also known as the ‘Soapmaker of Corregio’ – who, between 1939 and 1940, killed and dismembered three women, then dissolved their bodies in caustic soda, whilst mixing their blood with milk and chocolate to make biscuits.
In short, without going into too much gory detail about the evening, CastelloFobia promises a truly unmissable series of thrills. Organised by Trivia Aps under the patronage of the local council, the dual format – afternoon and evening – has been confirmed again this year to invite all residents (from children to adults) to take part in this festival, which has become very popular in recent years.
From the afternoon onwards (from 6.00 pm), children will be able to have fun visiting the shops displaying the ‘Castellofobia’ logo, asking the fateful question: ‘Trick or treat?’, and collecting their treat from the shopkeeper. At the same time, the ‘face painting’ stall will open its doors, and the high street will come alive with a series of spine-chilling ‘flash mobs’ and some ‘horror’-themed musical performances. Following this, from 7.30 pm, the ‘street food’ area in Piazza Gramsci will open, alongside a number of local businesses offering refreshments and aperitifs.
From 9.00 pm, the ‘Escape Room’ will open, where participants may enter at their own risk, wandering through the streets and alleyways of the upper town. To help you find your way around, a special ‘map’ will be available (from Saturday 24 October at shops in the town centre and the ‘shop of fear’ in Via Bovio), which, as well as showing the locations of the scary characters, will allow visitors to take part in a riddle game. At each station, they will attempt to solve a riddle, receiving a letter in return to use in forming the ‘mysterious’ word or phrase: once the game is completed, they will then be able to take part in the final prize draw. Finally, the ‘Castellofobico for a Night’ contest is back this year, offering everyone the chance to dress up and scare passers-by. The best fancy dress – selected by a special jury (in strict secrecy) – will win a fantastic prize at the end of the evening (entries must be submitted by 30 October via email to triviaaps@gmail.com; confirmation from the organisers is required).
“CastelloFobia is back,” notes the Councillor for Culture, Franco Spina, “and with every edition it is enjoyed by everyone, young and old alike, particularly by children who have a marvellous time putting on make-up and dressing up. A wonderful event that brings the whole town centre to life, from the shopping area to the upper town, and which this year features a particularly stimulating theme brimming with ideas, on which the Trivia team – superbly coordinated by Michele Cucchiara and Ilaria Monzitta – has worked tirelessly with enthusiasm and great creativity. In short, a CastelloFobia that transforms Castello Alto into an enchanted and eerie setting for young and old alike, and for a Castelfiorentino that is truly lived and enjoyed by all.”
CastelloFobia is organised by Trivia Aps (under the patronage of Castelfiorentino Town Council) in collaboration with the CCN association ‘Tre Piazze’, the Palio association ‘Cà Stellare’, Prociv Arci, the Music School (junior band), AVIS, Cambio Cultural Centre, Auser, Cetra, Polisportiva I’ Giglio and 4 Jumps Country Line Dance
Information: 346 616 0478; http://www.castellofobia.it and on the dedicated social media pages.
