Graffito d'Argento - National Poetry Competition

A poetry prize at the foot of Mount Vesuvius

The Graffito d'Argento is one of the longest-running literary competitions in the Vesuvius area; with its 33rd edition in 2026, it surpasses thirty years of uninterrupted activity. It is promoted by the «Graffito d'Argento» Sociocultural Association of Pollena Trocchia, in the province of Naples, led by president Anna Maria Romano, who is also the creator and driving force behind the initiative.

The formula has remained simple and true to itself: a call for entries open to all, the submission of works to the secretariat, anonymous evaluation by a jury of critics and literature enthusiasts, and finally an awards evening in the town, featuring readings of the winning verses, trophies, plaques, and medals. Over the years, the competition has collected seventy to eighty works per edition from all over Italy, signed by both novice students and already published poets.

Five sections, from Italian to vernacular

The competition is divided into five sections, designed to celebrate high-brow poetry, dialectal works, and young talent alike:

• Section A — poetry in Italian on a free theme;
• Section B — vernacular poetry, titled the «Antonio De Curtis» Prize, in homage to the 'Prince of Laughter' and his Neapolitan poetic vein;
• Section C — «Futuro» (Future) Prize, reserved for young people aged 10 to 18, with free entry;
• Section D — «Simpatia» Prize;
• Section E — Special «Giovanni Scognamiglio» Prize.

Each work must respect the 25-line limit and be submitted in six typed copies: only one bears the author's personal details, ensuring anonymity during the jury's reading. The administrative fee is 20 euros per section, while the section dedicated to young people remains free.

A bridge between Campania and Puglia

The Graffito d'Argento has never been just a local prize. Over the years, it has built a solid cultural twinning with the Pro Loco Quadratum of Corato, in the province of Bari: in several editions, the awards ceremony was split, with a first evening in Pollena Trocchia and a second in Puglia reserved for the top winners. Hence the recurring patronage of bodies from both regions, from the Regional Council of Campania to the Pugliapromozione agency, alongside that of the Municipality of Pollena Trocchia and the collaboration with the Neapolitan publisher Graus Edizioni. The jury itself often has a mixed composition, with representatives from Campania and Puglia and the participation of local administrators.

The awards ceremony

The awards ceremony is the public highlight of the competition and usually takes place in the «Falcone e Borsellino» Council Chamber of the town hall, on Corso Umberto I, or in other city venues such as the Suore Compassioniste institute on Via Cappelli, which hosted the 2025 edition. Admission is free: anyone can attend the reading of the works, the speeches by the jurors, and the presentation of the awards. The top eight finishers in both the Italian language and vernacular sections are awarded, while all participants receive a certificate.

Pollena Trocchia, between Vesuvius and the Golden Mile

A town of a few thousand inhabitants on the northern side of Mount Vesuvius, Pollena Trocchia belongs to the Vesuvian belt of Campania and is located a few kilometers from Naples, between the Vesuvius National Park and the historic villas of the Golden Mile. In a territory often described only for its volcano, the Graffito d'Argento represents one of the most consistent and recognizable cultural activities of the town, capable of attracting authors from outside the region and giving space, through the vernacular section, to the tradition of Neapolitan dialect poetry.

How to participate

Works must be sent by registered mail or delivered by hand to the association's secretariat, c/o president Anna Maria Romano, at Via R. Apicella 7 in Pollena Trocchia. The participation fee is paid via standard postal money order. The complete call for entries, with updated deadlines and submission methods, is released every year by the association and covered by the local press; for information, you can write to the address [email protected].