Festival of Myth, Art, and Literature

A festival of Verga, myth, and great literature

The Festival of Myth, Art, and Literature is the cultural event that transforms Aci Castello, on the Ionian coast of the province of Catania, into a sprawling stage dedicated to the written word, memory, and the landscape every summer. The central theme is stated in the title: a journey through the genius of Verga and the echoes of myth, set in those places along the Riviera dei Ciclopi that Giovanni Verga made immortal with I Malavoglia and where Greek legend places the sea stacks hurled by Polyphemus.

Readings, theatre, and literary cafés

The programme alternates between literary readings, theatrical performances, meetings with authors and scholars, and Literary Cafés hosted at the evocative Norman-Swabian Castle of Aci Castello. The symbolic heart of the event is the relationship with Verga's work: the pages of I Malavoglia come to life through staged readings, while myth and Sicilian narrative tradition provide the backdrop for a schedule designed for both residents and visitors.

A network of cultural institutions

The festival is promoted by the Municipality of Aci Castello with the coordination of the Tourism Department and stems from a network of leading cultural partners: the Pro Loco of Aci Castello, the Verga Foundation, the Federico II Foundation, the Riviera dei Ciclopi Ecomuseum, the Department of Humanities of the University of Catania, and the associations Sajamastra and Teatro Mobile of Catania. This collaboration brings prominent performers and scholars to the area, with literary curation entrusted to Dora Marchese and actors such as Ezio Donato.

The places of the Riviera dei Ciclopi

Events are spread across the Norman-Swabian Castle, the squares of Aci Castello, and the seaside villages of the municipal territory, from Aci Trezza with its sea stacks to the Scalo di Alaggio. It is precisely this blend of literature and landscape that makes the festival an identity-defining experience: walking through the places associated with Verga while the voices of the characters of Padron 'Ntoni and the Toscano family resonate offers the public a glimpse into the profound Sicily described by Verismo.

A staple of the Castellese summer

Part of the broader summer season of the Municipality of Aci Castello, the Festival of Myth, Art, and Literature represents the cultural and literary soul of the event, alongside music, popular theatre, and entertainment. Most initiatives are free to attend, with a calendar that unfolds throughout the summer months in the province of Catania, Sicily.