L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2025 www.italoamericano.org 10 L'Italo-Americano ALL AROUND ITALY TRAVEL TIPS DESTINATIONS ACTIVITIES ture and innovation," he stat- ed. Agrigento, he reminded the audience, is the "Akragas of Empedocles, who called the four fundamental ele- ments of existence—fire, air, earth, and water—'roots.'" This connection to Empe- docles is symbolically repre- sented in the logo for Agri- gento's designation as the Italian Capital of Culture 2025. The logo features a stylized Telamon, a monu- mental figure holding up the city, representing the four elements—fire, air, earth, and water—that form the founda- t i o n o f e x i s t e n c e a n d t h e essence of Agrigento's identi- ty. The President also high- lighted the theme Agrigento has chosen to guide its year as the Italian Capital of Cul- ture: The Self, the Other, and Nature. He remarked, "The Valley of the Temples, a magnificent living stage that has dominated these lands for over two thousand years, becomes the most beautiful symbol of the culture-nature relationship, which presents itself to our time as a critical among the attendees. P r e s i d e n t M a t t a r e l l a ' s s p e e c h w a s a s t a n d o u t moment, offering not just f o r m a l r e m a r k s b u t a l s o heartfelt recognition of the efforts needed to make this opportunity a transformative one. Addressing the "citizens o f A g r i g e n t o , w h o , f r o m today, are the protagonists of the Italian Capital of Culture 2025," he extended his greet- ings and best wishes to all involved in organizing the program's events. He also acknowledged the neighbor- ing municipalities, including Lampedusa, whose residents, he noted, "have been thrust into the forefront of Euro- p e a n c i v i l i z a t i o n b y t h e wounds of our time, embody- ing a culture of solidarity. Few places bear witness to the succession of civilizations as vividly as this part of Sici- ly." Mattarella emphasized the need for cultural opportuni- ties to flourish even in areas where they have been histori- cally limited. "A voice must proclaim that the periph- eries, too, are engines of cul- challenge." Referring to the I t a l i a n C o n s t i t u t i o n , h e added, "...it was farsighted, pairing the promotion of cul- ture with the protection of the landscape in Article 9." Culture, then, is not just about admiration but about understanding the common g o o d , k n o w l e d g e , a n d encounters that give life its m e a n i n g . T h e P r e s i d e n t stressed that "In a place like Agrigento, where the monu- mental heritage is dominant, one might believe that cul- ture is merely about admir- ing the remnants of the past. But culture does not look b a c k w a r d — i t h a s a l w a y s u r g e d u s t o l i f t o u r g a z e t o w a r d t o m o r r o w . " H e warned that focusing solely on the past risks stagnation and regression. "Only by reflecting on our identity, the paths through w h i c h i t h a s f o r m e d , t h e processes that have shaped it, a n d t h e l a y e r s t h a t h a v e enriched its essence can we gain the self-awareness need- ed to connect with other cul- tures. This is the spirit that inspired Agrigento's bid to become Italy's Capital of Cul- ture, and I would add, the Mediterranean's Capital of Culture." These were some of the words delivered by Min- ister of Culture Alessan- d r o G i u l i d u r i n g h i s address. For those of us whose pro- fession is to write news and tell stories, this moment feels especially meaningful. After all, culture is also about com- munication and the exchange of ideas. It is fitting to note that January 24, marking the beginning of Agrigento's sig- nificant journey as the City of Temples, coincides with the feast day of Saint Francis de Sales, the patron saint of journalists. B u i l d i n g o n P r e s i d e n t Mattarella's words—"Let us approach this year with hope, a spirit of welcome, a willing- ness to learn, to engage in dialogue, and to embark on a fascinating journey togeth- e r " — w e w h o l e h e a r t e d l y embrace his message and echo his closing sentiment: "Wishing you a wonderful year as the Capital of Cul- ture!" l i v e s a n d l e f t e v e n m o r e injured. On Saturday, January 18, the Luigi Pirandello Theater hosted the inauguration of Agrigento's year as the Ital- ian Capital of Culture 2025. The event was attended by t h e P r e s i d e n t o f t h e R e p u b l i c , S e r g i o Mattarella, himself a Sicil- ian from Palermo and the b r o t h e r o f P i e r s a n t i Mattarella, the former Presi- dent of the Sicilian Region, who was tragically assassi- nated by the Mafia on Janu- ary 6, 1980. Also present were the Minister of Culture, Alessandro Giuli; the Presi- dent of the Region, Renato Schifani; the President of the Regional Assembly, Gaetano Galvagno; the Mayor of Agri- gento, Francesco Miccichè; the President of the Province, Giovanni Bologna; and the m a y o r s o f n e i g h b o r i n g municipalities. In addition, Roberto Albergoni, General Director of the Agrigento Capital of Culture Founda- tion, and Giacomo Minio, President of the Agrigento 2 0 2 5 F o u n d a t i o n , w e r e W hen Agri- g e n t o w a s d e c l a r e d t h e I t a l - ian Capital of Culture for 2025 on May 25, 2023, the significance of the title and the preparations it required may not have been immedi- ately clear. The journey since has been long and fraught with challenges, setbacks, and high hopes. The year 2024 brought severe droughts that exacerbated water shortages across much of Sicily and p a r t s o f I t a l y . A g r i g e n t o , where water scarcity has been a persistent issue, found itself in an especially precarious situation, prompting urgent action by local authorities. Thankfully, the rains even- tually arrived. The restorative power of nature, combined w i t h c o n c e r t e d h u m a n efforts, resolved several criti- cal issues, averting irrepara- ble damage. On November 13, 2023, I wrote on these very pages about this ambitious endeavor, which has engaged cities throughout the Agri- gento province. The full program of events for 2025 is now available online. Sciac- ca, Favara, Racalmuto, the island of Lampedusa, the V a l l e y o f t h e T e m p l e s Archaeological Park, and the Writers' Road will all contribute significantly to cel- ebrating Agrigento's designa- tion as the cultural capital of Sicily's southern coast. This isn't the first time a Sicilian city has held this honor. In 2018, Palermo was named the Italian Capital of Culture, spurring substan- tial growth in the city. Many important events took place, some of which continue to t h i s d a y , e m b o d y i n g t h e essence of culture itself: con- tinuity. The land of Pirandello, Sci- a s c i a , a n d C a m i l l e r i a l s o bears the scars of tragedies that cannot be forgotten. One of these was the devastating earthquake that struck on the night of January 14–15, 1968. M o n t e v a g o w a s 9 0 % destroyed, with the remaining 10% severely damaged. A sec- o n d q u a k e o n J a n u a r y 2 5 d e l i v e r e d t h e f i n a l b l o w . Towns like Gibellina, Poggio- reale, and Salaparuta, along with Partanna, Salemi, and other areas in the Trapani province, were left in ruins, with Palermo also impacted. The disaster claimed many TERESA DI FRESCO C u l t u r e , n a t u r e , a n d i d e n t i t y : Agrigento's vision for 2025 A street of Sciacca, one of the towns in the Agrigento province involved in the activities of the Capital of Culture 2025 (Photo: e55evu/Dreamstime)

• Cover