Certamen Manfredi di Svevia

The Certamen Manfredi di Svevia in Ceprano

The Certamen Manfredi di Svevia is a national literary prize taking place in Ceprano, in the province of Frosinone, southern Lazio. Promoted by the Il Verde cultural association, this fiction and poetry competition was created to highlight the figure of Manfredi di Svevia, son of Emperor Frederick II, and the deep historical bond connecting the Swabian prince to this Ciociaria town.

A prize linked to the city's history

The initiative is rooted in a crucial medieval episode: on October 11, 1254, at the Passo di Ceprano along the Liri river, Manfredi met Pope Innocent IV, to whom the young prince paid feudal homage. It is no coincidence that the final ceremony of the Certamen opens the Historical Re-enactment week of Ceprano each year, commemorating that event. The competition thus becomes part of a broader journey to rediscover the medieval identity of the territory.

Sections and participants

The Certamen is divided into numerous sections dedicated to fiction and poetry, with both free and set themes, including spaces reserved for non-fiction and young school authors. The first edition received over 150 entries from all Italian regions and two foreign countries, a sign of interest that has transcended local borders.

• Fiction and poetry for adults, with free and set themes
• Non-fiction section on the figure of Manfredi and the Lancia family
• Sections dedicated to local school students

The awards ceremony

The winners are announced in Ceprano during the second week of October, in a public event that combines readings of the winning works, awards, and moments of historical insight. Winners of each section receive personalized plaques, publication in the official prize proceedings, and local artisanal products.

Ceprano and the Ciociaria

Located along the Liri valley, Ceprano is a town with a thousand-year history, a historic crossroads between Lazio and the Kingdom of Naples. The Certamen Manfredi di Svevia helps keep the memory of its medieval past alive and promotes literary culture throughout the province of Frosinone.