L'Italo-Americano

www.italoamericano.org 8 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2 2023 L'Italo-Americano I n the Valley of the G o d s — s o n a m e d since the days when Agrigento was known by its ancient Greek moniker, Akragas—history and beauty come together in a sublime blend. This evoca- tive name was bestowed by i t s G r e e k f o u n d e r s , w h o transformed the landscape into a Sicilian jewel. Most people know it as the Valley of the Temples in Agri- gento, the capital of one of Sicily's nine provinces. Situ- ated in the southern part of the island, Agrigento over- l o o k s t h e M e d i t e r r a n e a n Sea—a dual-stage that both e n c h a n t s i t s v i s i t o r s a n d brings sorrow to those who cross it, not as tourists but as i n d i v i d u a l s e s c a p i n g d i r e conditions of poverty, war, and despair. The Valley hasn't escaped global attention either. In 1 9 9 7 , i t e a r n e d a s p o t o n UNESCO's List of World Heritage Sites, a nod to its archaeological importance on the world stage. Two years later, in 1999, the neighbor- ing Garden of Kolimbetra received protection from the Italian Environment Fund (FAI), highlighting the nat- ural symbiosis between the land and its inhabitants, par- t i c u l a r l y i n t h e r e a l m s o f agriculture and environmen- tal sustainability. This har- m o n i o u s r e l a t i o n s h i p reached a pinnacle in 2017 when the Archaeological and Landscape Park of the Valley of the Temples was honored with the first-ever Italian Landscape Prize. This acco- lade led to its representation o f I t a l y i n t h e E u r o p e a n Landscape Prize and won it a Special Mention for Sustain- able Development and Social R e i n t e g r a t i o n d u r i n g t h e 2016-2017 Landscape Award of the European Landscape Convention. On May 25, 2023, after surviving a rigorous selection process and besting numer- ous Italian cities, Agrigento emerged as one of the presti- gious top ten finalists, ulti- mately clinching the coveted title of Italian Capital of C u l t u r e f o r 2 0 2 5 . T h e ambitious project that cata- p u l t e d i t t o t h i s h o n o r includes an array of innova- t i v e i n i t i a t i v e s , f r o m t h e e x p a n s i o n o f e x h i b i t i o n spaces at Agrigento's Coral Museum to an exclusive div- ing experience for certified tourists to explore the sub- merged Ferdinandea Island near Sciacca. Additionally, the plan features the Lampe- dusa Wreck Museum, dedi- cated to preserving the tragic v e s s e l s o f s h i p w r e c k e d migrants; the Aroma Path- way, maintained by individu- als with intellectual disabili- t i e s ; a n d a f o c u s o n promoting local vineyards and wines. There's also the Garden of Peace in Ribera, i n n o v a t i v e r e c y c l i n g o f i n d u s t r i a l w a s t e , a n d t h e introduction of Diodoros, a brand emblematic of the Val- ley of the Temples' wine and olive oil production, among other hospitable cultural ini- tiatives. Traditional festivities will also be in full swing, includ- i n g t h e l o n g - s t a n d i n g Almond Blossom Festi- val celebrating global tradi- tions; the Carnival of Sci- a c c a , o n e o f t h e m o s t notable in both Sicily and Italy; and the Feast of San Calogero, the Black Saint, who attracts devotees not just from Agrigento but from across Sicily and beyond. A key factor in Agrigento's selection was its inclusive approach, integrating cities from its province—ranging from Lampedusa to Sciacca a n d f r o m R a c a l m u t o t o Favara—into its grand vision for the Valley of the Temples. This will be supported by an all-encompassing project to enhance accessibility and communication for both the Archaeological and Land- scape Park of the Valley of the Temples and the Pietro Griffo Archaeological Muse- um. A rich mix of cultural, artistic, and musical events will further enrich the pro- gram. In short, no form of art or cultural representation w i l l b e l e f t u n e x p l o r e d . Already active for several years, the 'Road of Writers' p r o j e c t w i l l l a u n c h t h e 'Squares of the Capital' ini- t i a t i v e , a i m i n g t o e n g a g e communities large and small across the province as inte- gral parts of the City of Tem- ples. The logo for Agrigento, d e s i g n a t e d a s t h e I t a l i a n Capital of Culture for 2025, is a masterpiece crafted by architect Barbara Spallit- ta. It features a stylized Tela- mon supporting Agrigento, encapsulating the four classi- cal elements: fire, air, earth, and water. These elements, as the ancient philosopher Empedocles posited, serve as the foundational roots from which matter springs to life. So, what were the com- pelling factors that crowned Agrigento as the Italian Capi- tal of Culture for 2025? The heart of the city's candidacy l a y i n i t s d o s s i e r , w h i c h explored "the intricate rela- tionships between individu- als, neighbors, and nature. This focus extended to the island of Lampedusa and the various municipalities of the province, all underpinned by themes of hospitality and mobility [...]. The region's rich cultural heritage serves as a catalyst for a diverse array of cultural initiatives. T h e s e a r e e n v i s i o n e d through a lens of innovation and promotion, ultimately s p a r k i n g s o c i o - e c o n o m i c development inspired by cut- ting-edge technological con- cepts. The active engagement o f y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n s ensures that culture becomes the bedrock of both individ- ual and communal growth. To encapsulate the ethos: " T h e s e l f , t h e o t h e r , a n d nature: relationships and cultural transformations." When discussing Agrigen- to's rich cultural heritage, it's a l m o s t s e c o n d n a t u r e t o invoke the names of lumi- naries such as Luigi Piran- dello, a Nobel Laureate in L i t e r a t u r e , a l o n g w i t h L e o n a r d o S c i a s c i a a n d Andrea Camilleri. These are just a few of the myriad writ- ers who were born in the province of Agrigento and w h o s e t a l e n t s h a v e b e e n shaped by its unique artistic and human landscape. But Agrigento has another face, one far more intimate. This private view is beauti- fully captured by Angelo Pitrone, a highly sensitive p h o t o g r a p h e r w i t h b o t h technical and artistic exper- tise who has devoted signifi- cant attention to his home- town. While cherishing its s p l e n d o r , h e d o e s n ' t s h y away from acknowledging its limitations. In his evocatively t i t l e d b o o k , A g r i g e n t o Intima, published by Medi- nova and featuring contribu- tions from Matteo Collura, E d i t h d e l a H é r o n n i è r e , Gianfranco Jannuzzo, and Beniamino Biondi, Pitrone offers over a hundred pho- tographs that diverge from c o n v e n t i o n a l p o s t c a r d images. These pictures go beyond the iconic Valley of the Temples or the Garden of K o l i m b e t r a t o u n v e i l t h e diverse cultures and daily lives that make up the fabric of the city. Indeed, it's a place teem- ing with life, even in the qui- etude captured by the pho- tographs. Pitrone's unique framing and choice of color effects breathe life into bas- reliefs, panoramas, and the rare faces that appear, along with objects and snippets of the cityscape. Through his l e n s , A g r i g e n t o h u m b l y reveals its true essence: the golden glow of its precious stones in sunlight, the opu- l e n t b l o o m o f i t s a l m o n d trees, and the grandeur of its temple columns. In a way, i t ' s a n A g r i g e n t o t h a t m o m e n t a r i l y s t e p s a w a y from its looming title as the future capital of culture to b a r e i t s e l f — i n t i m a t e a n d unadorned—to the photogra- pher's eye and to all who seek the city's human soul. It presents itself as it truly is, seen through eyes that may b e d i s i l l u s i o n e d b u t a r e nonetheless deeply in love. ALL AROUND ITALY TRAVEL TIPS DESTINATIONS PEOPLE ACTIVITIES Agrigento: capital of culture, capital of the heart TERESA DI FRESCO The fallen Icarus in front of the Temple of Concordia (Photo: Joop Kleuskens/Dreamstime) and, bottom left, the cover of Angelo Pitone's Agrigento Intima (Photo courtesy of Teresa Di Fresco)

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