From 22 May to the end of August, Salento returns to be an exceptional literary stage with the eleventh edition of Harmony. Narrations in Terra d’Otrantothe festival widespread with the artistic direction of Mario Desiati, conceived and organized by Alessano’s hydrusa bookcase and by the Association Narratives.
An appointment that, from the most extreme flap of Puglia, every year weaves literature, memory and territory, with the aim of bringing communities closer to reading and reflection. The Festival is made with the support of the Puglia regional council – Teca del Mediterraneo and Bper Banca.
The theme of this year, Read brings your look far awayit is an invitation to discover new horizons, to explore other realities and reflect on the world around us. A wide proposal for meetings, presentations, unpublished cultural insights with national and international guests, as per the tradition of the initiative. Among the participants, in addition to the twelve candidates for the Strega 2025 prize and the first public presentation of those who will win the Calvino Prize (which will be announced on June 5), also Adania Shibli, Giulia Caminito, Teresa Ciabatti, Viola Ardone, Edoardo Albinati, Nicoletta Verna, Vittorio Lingiardi, Sandrone Dazieri, Paolo Giordano, Antonio Franchini, Maurizio Mannoni, Noemi Abe, Chiara Valerio, Nichi Vendola, Chiara Marchelli, Gabriella Genisie many others.
As per tradition, the festival begins to Presicce-water, on the weekend of 22 to 25 May, with the only Salento stage of Strega Tourwhich has been created in collaboration with the Maria and Goffredo Bellonci Foundation And the witch liqueur. An extraordinary opportunity for direct dialogue between readers and writers, with presentations by the twelve authors and finalist authors of the 79th edition of the Strega Prize, announced on April 15th.
Palazzo Ducale and the hanging gardens of Presicce, Piazza ex Town Hall and the Masseria Selorizzo di Acquarica they will be the scenario to listen to the voices and stories of Valerio Aiolli (Portofino Blues, Voland), Saba Anglana (Mrs. wonderSellerio), Andrea Bajani (The anniversaryFeltrinelli), Elvio Carrieri (Poor to usVentanas), Deborah Gambetta (Incompleteness. A story by Kurt Gödel, Ponte alle Grazie), Wanda Marasco (From behind this worldNeri Pozza), Renato Martinoni (Memories of sounds and lightsManni), Paolo Nori (I close the door and screamMondadori), Elisabetta Rasy (Lost this sea is, Rizzoli), Michele Ruol (Inventory of what remains after the forest burnsTerrarossa), Nadia Terranova (What I know of youGuanda) e Giorgio Van Stten (The rebel. Extraordinary life of Nada Parri, Laterza).
«Writers and intellectuals who participate in the Festival leave not only their words, but also their experiences that can be shared with the readers of the present and readers of the future, for a more conscious look at the world, assures the writer Mario Desiatiartistic director since the first edition of Armonia, winner of the Witch 2022 award and recently in the bookstore with the new novel Malbianco (Einaudi). “We are at the eleventh edition and what we can say with certainty is that a community of readers has been created, a network of promotion to reading involving schools and libraries And that, despite being in the propagations of this country, the extreme tip of the heel, keeps the gaze in continuous expansion with the meetings, presentations, workshops ».
The image of the Festival this year was entrusted to the illustrator Fabiana Renzo, Which through his art manages to convey the magic of the creative short circuit between nature, images and narratives, elements that have always inspired harmony. Hot and refined shades, with a minimalist but suggestive design, recall the beauty of the Mediterranean landscape and culture, in line with the “widespread” dimension of the cultural initiative.
Italo Calvino Prize | Lucugnano | 14-15 June
Another distinctive section of harmony is dedicated to Calvino Prizethe most prestigious national recognition for beginners, which will be held 14 and 15 June between Palazzo Comi and Piazza Comi in Lucugnano. Since its birth, Armonia has carried out a fundamental scouting mission, giving visibility to promising voices that then enriched the literary panorama. For eight years, the festival traditionally has been hosting the first presentation of the winner immediately after the announcement, and the winner of the previous edition, Simone Turin, with the book just published by Einaudi, Macaque.
The other guests will be Nicoletta Verna, who will present Glass days (Einaudi), special mention of the jury at the Calvino 2020 Prize for the debut novel The emotional value, Viola Ardone with the novel Great wonder (Einaudi), linked to the Calvino Prize for having participated as security last year, and Nichi Vendola, who will present his poetic collection Sacred queer (Manni).
The section, created in synergy with the Librasto Polo of Lecce and the Tina Lambrini Association, also implements a collaboration with The index of the books of the monthhistoric Turin magazine of criticism and cultural deepening, today the protagonist of a revitalization project aimed at building a direct and continuous relationship with readers and readers. Alessano’s Idrusa library will be among the offices chosen for the exclusive appointments of the Index Club. For the occasion Palazzo Comi will host the exhibition “Fabiana Renzo on display”, Dedicated to the official illustrator of the 2025 edition festival.
Mediterranean speeches
The highly anticipated guest for the Mediterranean speeches section this year is the Palestinian writer Adania Shibli With his important testimony and reflection on the Palestinian situation. Shibli will be the protagonist with his novel Senses, His first book, just republished with a new translation from La Nave di Teseo. The meeting, scheduled for July 18 in Leuca, in the square in front of the Basilica Sanctuary of Santa Maria de Finibus Terraeis made in collaboration with the Municipality of Castrignano del Capo and with the Ecclesial Cultural Park of Finibus Terrae. As part of the event, the ceremony of delivery of the fourth edition of the “Alan Kurdi” literary competition will also be held, which rewards the best works written by the students of the higher secondary education institutes, with a strong focus on the topic of migration.
Starting this year, Mediterranean speeches turns into a real spin-off of harmony, becoming an autonomous review dedicated to reflection on the socio-political issues of the Mediterranean. Organized with Arci Cassandra, with the support of the European Policies Department and International Cooperation of the Puglia Region, it will be divided into two main events in Specchia (June) and Patù (September), in addition to the meeting of Leuca, which will represent a point of crossing and dialogue with the Festival.
Harmony off | Patù, Alessano, Castrignano del Capo, Specchia
The Festival will continue throughout the summer with Harmony off, A series of presentations and meetings that will animate the squares of some of the most suggestive places in Salento. The appointments will be held in Patù (10/11 July), Alessano (21/22 July), where the meetings with the two winners of the BPER BANCA ARCONIA Award, Castrignano del Capo (4/5 August) and Specchia (18/19 August).
Among the guests, protagonists of squares and exceptional scenarios with their interventions, there will be prominent authors with their most recent books such as Noemi aband, with Damè. It is not done (Bompiani), Edoardo Albinati that will present The children of the instant (Rizzoli), Sandrone Dazieri with Kill the rich (Rizzoli), Antonio Franchini author of The fire you bring inside (Marsilio), Maurizio Mannoni with That night in Saxa Rubra (The ship of Teseo), Chiara Valeriowhich will dialogue with Paolo Giordano To present his new outgoing novel for Sellerio, Giordano will also dialogue with Vittorio Lingiardi About his book Body, human (Einaudi), Giulia Caminito will participate with The evil that is not there (Bompiani), Gabriella Genisi with A matter of money (Sonzogno), Marcello Simoni with his new book that will come out for Newton Compton, Chiara Marchelli with His daughter (Feltrinelli) e Manuela Maddamma With the new book out for Fandango. Michela PonzanI instead will be the protagonist with Women who resist. The Fosse Ardeatine from the massacre to memory (1944-2025), And Giuliana Salvi with Clementinaboth books published by Einaudi.
The presentations of some books of the “Read La Puglia” editorial series of the Puglia Regional Council are also planned as part of the Festival.
