A small rural town in Italy where Paolo Nutini’s family hail from will be awash with saltires this weekend for its annual Scottish festival.
The Tuscan town of Barga, with a population of less than 10,000, is considered the most Scottish town in Italy with historic ties dating back a century.
From the late 1800s generations of families from Barga emigrated to Scotland, settling mainly in Glasgow and the west coast, opening up cafes, ice cream shops and chip shops and many Scots have relocated to the tiny town in the province of Lucca.
It’s most famous export is Scots singer-songwriter Paolo Nutini whose granddad Giovanni opened Castelvecchi chip shop in Paisley after moving there from Barga in 1914.
Paolo’s dad Alfredo retired from the traditional family chippy last year after more than 50 years running the place where Paolo worked as a teenager before finding stardom.
In 2007 Paolo was awarded Barga’s coveted Golden St Christopher medal to celebrate the musician’s contributions to the town and its residents.
Nutini said previously: “I’ve been coming here just about every year since I was a baby and it’s the most amazing place in the world. We always have a great time here and it always feels like coming home.”
Other Scots who have roots in Barga include rugby player George Biagi who was born in Irvine and Falkirk footballer Giovanni Moscardini who the town’s stadium is named after.
The town also has its own Barga-Glasgow tartan, a red British phone box and hosts a hugely popular fish and chip shop festival each summer and Burns Night in January.
This weekend (September 4-6) the sound of Scotland will be heard through Barga’s medieval streets as pipe bands, ceilidhs, Highland dancers and Highland Games celebrate Italy’s unique Scottish connection with plenty of Scottish produce on offer including steak pies, haggis, whisky, Irn-Bru and Tennent’s.
Local restaurants and eateries will add a Scottish flavour to their menu with a selection of traditional dishes, while local associations will join the celebrations by serving authentic Scottish street food.
Whisky enthusiasts will have the opportunity to take part in guided tastings featuring rare and collectible Macallan miniatures, specially selected for the 2026 edition.
Glasgow’s Lord Provost is making an appearance this year with performances from the Isle of Skye Youth Pipe Band and performers coming from Canada.
Organised by the BargaScot Association and the Municipality of Barga, the 2026 festival programme will include Highland Games, live music, bagpipes, Scottish food and drink, cultural events and international delegations.
Behind the festival lies a fascinating story of emigration, family and cultural exchange.
In 1895, Luigi Lemetti and his wife Maddalena opened their fish-and-chip shop in Camelon, Falkirk. More than 130 years later, their family’s connection with both Scotland and Barga continues. Their grandchildren, Irene and Michael Lemetti, will be among those taking part in the festival.
Michael Lemetti, a designer, created the Italian Tartan as well as the commemorative tartan celebrating the friendship between Barga and Glasgow, turning the intertwined history of the two communities into a distinctive visual symbol.