Agrigento, known for its rich archaeological heritage, succeeds Pesaro as Italy’s 2025 Capital of Culture.
Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella officially inaugurated Agrigento as Capitale Italiana della Cultura 2025 on Saturday. The ceremony took place in the hilltop city in Sicily.
During the event, President Mattarella highlighted Italy’s cultural diversity. “Nature, history, and culture are integral to our heritage,” he said. He emphasised that Italy’s wealth lies in its plurality, stating, “The multiple beauties and diverse histories of our cities are what make Italy unique.”
Mattarella also noted, “This cultural diversity is a treasure we must invest in for our children’s future. Many regions in Italy possess invaluable resources that require care to avoid deterioration.”
Inauguration at Teatro Luigi Pirandello
The inauguration was held at Teatro Luigi Pirandello, with notable attendees including Roberto Albergoni, Natalia Re, Giacomo Minio, Francesco Miccichè, Renato Schifani, and Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli. The event marked a significant milestone following discussions about delays in preparatory works.
President Mattarella stressed, “Culture is not just admiration of the past; it propels us towards the future.” He referenced Thomas Eliot, asserting that believing in the future is essential to preserving the past.
“In a place like Agrigento, where the monumental heritage is dominant, the belief that culture is admiration of the vestiges of the past could prevail. But culture does not look backwards. Rather, he always urged us to raise it towards tomorrow.”.
He added, “Agrigento, collects this precious witness from Pesaro, in the center of Italy. Which, in turn, had received it from the north of our country: from Brescia and Bergamo. A chain, of extraordinary value. Italy is full of places full of history, art, beauty.”
Renato Schifani, President of the Sicilian Region, declared the event an opportunity for both Agrigento and Sicily to overcome stereotypes and address social challenges. He encouraged the transformation of dreams into cultural and entrepreneurial initiatives.
Agrigento’s cultural year, titled “La natura della cultura,” features hundreds of events. The city, a Greek colony founded in the sixth century BC, is celebrated for its UNESCO-listed Valley of the Temples.
The programme can be found on the official website.
Overview of Capital of Culture
Italy’s Capitals of Culture initiative began in 2014. Past capitals include Cagliari, Lecce, Perugia, Ravenna, Siena, Mantua, Pistoia, Palermo, Parma, Procida, and Bergamo-Brescia. L’Aquila will hold the title in 2026.
The Ministry of Culture recently announced the ten finalists for Italy’s 2027 Capital of Culture:
- Alberobello (Puglia) “Pietramadre”
- Aliano (Basilicata) “Land of Elsewhere”
- Brindisi (Puglia) “Navigating the Future”
- Gallipoli (Puglia) “The Beauty Between Land and Sea”
- La Spezia (Liguria) “A Culture Like the Sea”
- Pompeii (Campania) “Pompei Continuum”
- Pordenone (Friuli Venezia Giulia) “City That Surprises”
- Reggio Calabria (Calabria) “Heart of the Mediterranean”
- Sant’Andrea di Conza (Campania) “Meeting Time”
- Savona (Liguria) “New Routes for Culture”
Public hearings for the finalists will take place on 25-26 February 2025, with the winner announced by 28 March 2025. The chosen city will receive €1 million to implement their cultural initiatives.
