Caterina Games Festival

On Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 November 2025, the Caterina Games Festival will take place at the “Fausto Gresini” Tensile Structure in Imola.

Thanks to the collaboration with the Black Isle Society, the Caterina Games Festival offers visitors a true journey through the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, using the universal language of play: role-playing games, wargames, board games, artisanal activities, and traditional wooden games.

Welcoming the public will be the historical setup of the Imola-based group I Difensori della Rocca, allowing attendees to immerse themselves in the 14th century and discover authentic aspects of medieval daily life. In the Arena, visitors can enjoy demonstrations of medieval fencing, while reenactment enthusiasts can attend the presentation of the historical archery courses, preparatory to the renowned Palio dei Quartieri.

The festival will feature major names from the gaming and artisanal scene:

• Raven Distribution, hosted by Imola Ufficio, with a selection of board games, gamebooks, and RPGs.

• Compagnia dei Maldestri, known for promoting role-playing games on YouTube and Twitch.

• Gilda degli Eroi from San Giovanni in Persiceto, with dedicated role-playing tables.

• Viaggiatori coi Dadi, presenting their original system 280 B.C., which tells history through role-play.

• Maremma che Giochi, attending on Sunday with Unearthed: Story of a Civilization.

From Romagna come the wargames of GMBS Faenza, presented by Stefano Bassetti, featuring 28 mm miniatures to recreate The Wars of the Roses using the Blood & Crowns system, along with an exclusive Baron’s War scenario inspired by local heraldry between Faenza and Forlì.

Among the groups dedicated to medieval reenactment, the festival will host Società dei Vai and Reenactment Advisor, offering medieval and Renaissance board and gambling games for visitors to try directly on site.

There will also be plenty of room for artisanal creativity:

• Wood Lab by Alex Scardovi, with handcrafted wooden games.

• Massimiliano Aiazzi – Bottega delle Idee, famous for his wooden pinball machine featured on Italia’s Got Talent.

• Musician and artisan Iven Cagnolati, who will animate the arena with live music and handmade instruments.

Among the most anticipated guests is tattoo artist and illustrator Sofia Giovannetti (Sofia Isil), present on Sunday with her works inspired by the medieval world.

In the cultural-gaming area, additional participants include:

• Ludus Historia Belli Faventia, presenting a board game inspired by Italian knightly jousts.

• Just Play Bologna, promoting the culture of board games and role-playing games as educational and social tools.

Representing local excellence:

• Libreria Il Mosaico, with a selection of books dedicated to the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

• The Imola Chess Association (active since 1973), ready to introduce both children and adults to the fascination of chess.

The festival will also host the exhibition “The Fantastic in Emilia-Romagna between Science and Folklore”, curated by Lisa Emiliani: a journey through legends, magic, and mysterious creatures, exploring the medieval imagination of the region.

The Gilda del Leone Rosso from Faenza will bring its punk, independent style to the RPG world with a dedicated zine and gaming tables.

Throughout the event, visitors will find food stalls, craft beer from the Beerserk brewery, the official shop of Feudalesimo e Libertà, and festival-themed merchandise.

The organizers also thank the Imola Scout Groups 1 and 4 for their logistical and organizational support, helping make the second edition of the Caterina Games Festival an unmissable event for gamers, families, cosplayers, and curious visitors.