Brancati-Zafferana Literary Prize

A prize of national prestige

The Brancati-Zafferana Literary Prize is one of Sicily's longest-running and most authoritative cultural events. Founded in 1967 through the initiative of illustrious figures of Italian culture—including Alberto Moravia, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Ezra Pound, Leonardo Sciascia, and Vanni Ronsisvalle—the prize quickly gained national stature, attracting prominent writers and poets over the decades such as Jorge Amado, Vincenzo Consolo, Dacia Maraini, and Elsa Morante.

A tribute to Vitaliano Brancati

The event is named after Vitaliano Brancati (1907–1954), one of the greatest Sicilian writers of the 20th century, author of novels such as Don Giovanni in Sicilia and Il bell'Antonio. Brancati was deeply attached to Zafferana Etnea, a town on the eastern side of Mount Etna where he loved to spend part of the year and where he found, as he liked to say, his "inspirational muse." This emotional and creative bond with the Etnean village is the origin of the prize that bears his name.

Sections and format

Originally conceived as a single award, since the mid-nineties the prize has been divided into several sections: fiction, non-fiction, and poetry, with the addition of a section dedicated to debut authors. A jury of writers, critics, and university professors selects the finalists and announces the winners, in a process that also actively involves students from high schools in the Acireale and Etna areas.

The ceremony and side events

The heart of the event is the award ceremony, held in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall of Zafferana Etnea, accompanied by musical interludes and readings. The ceremony is preceded by conferences and cultural meetings dedicated to literature and great Sicilian authors: recent editions have featured tributes to masters like Andrea Camilleri. All events are free and open to the public.

Zafferana Etnea, the cultural capital of Mount Etna

Located in the Metropolitan City of Catania, in Sicily, Zafferana Etnea is famous for its honey, its autumn "Ottobrata" festival, and its panoramic position on the eastern side of the volcano. The Brancati Prize represents its literary soul, an appointment that draws authors, critics, and readers from all over Italy every year, confirming the Etnean village's role as a meeting place between landscape, memory, and great culture.