Il Protagonista Award
The cultural salon of the Municipality of Vibonati, between Villammare and the Cilento region
About Il Protagonista
A tradition spanning nearly forty years
«Il Protagonista» is the historic award of the Municipality of Vibonati, a small town in the Province of Salerno overlooking the Gulf of Policastro in southern Cilento, Campania. For nearly four decades, the municipal administration has selected individuals who have excelled in art, music, culture, journalism, or their respective professions, inviting them to Vibonati and its seaside hamlet of Villammare for an evening of public engagement. It is not a closed ceremony, but an event designed for the community and those visiting during the summer.
Evenings of dialogue, not just plaques
The formula remains consistent, which explains the award's longevity. The evening begins with official greetings from the mayor, followed by a conversation led by a moderator, and concludes with the presentation of the award. The recipient does not simply receive an object; they share their professional journey, answer questions, and engage with the audience. The resulting evenings are diverse—a book presentation in a monastic hall, a discussion on public health in a seaside square, or a concert—all united by the belief that professional excellence deserves to be celebrated openly in a small town.
The venues: Villammare, Vibonati, and the Museo Logos
The award alternates between two settings. In summer, the stage is set in Villammare, where ceremonies take place in squares just steps from the sea: Piazzetta Cattel, Piazza Portosalvo, and Piazza Don Giuseppe Maria Paci Don Giuseppe Maria Paci. During the colder months, the event moves to the historic center of Vibonati, specifically the Conference Hall of the Museo Logos, housed within the San Francesco di Paola Monastery complex: an intimate setting perfect for book launches and personal encounters. This dual location is a unique feature of the award, ensuring it is not tied to a single date but enriches the municipality's cultural calendar throughout the year.
The protagonists of recent editions
The list of past recipients reflects the award's wide scope. In 2024, the honor went to journalist Domenico Iannacone, who visited Villammare on July 21st. The 2025 editions brought writer and journalist Antonio Monda, journalist Carmen Lasorella with her work «Terra mia», and performances by Amedeo Colella, Gianni Conte, and Mietta to the village. The 2026 edition opened in February with Father Roberto Faccenda, continued in July with breast surgeon and regional councilor Tommaso Pellegrino, recognized for his contributions to medicine, and also includes singer-songwriter Irene Grandi among its honorees.
The award within the Vibonati summer
«Il Protagonista» serves as the cultural heart of the «Vibonati Villammare Estate» program, which annually combines concerts, theater, literary meetings, and open-air cinema. Other municipal initiatives revolve around the award ceremonies:
- the Cinema under the Stars series, with outdoor screenings between Vibonati and Villammare;
- literary meetings and the Petrosa Award, dedicated to books;
- the Gusto Italia in Tour street food festival on the Villammare promenade;
- Rioni in Festa, which brings the historic center of Vibonati to life;
- the Villammare Film Festival & Friends, a short film festival that concludes the season.
Why it is worth attending
Those spending the summer in the Gulf of Policastro will find something more than mere entertainment here: an opportunity to listen closely to professionals in medicine, journalism, music, or literature in an informal, open-air, and authentic setting. It is also a fascinating way to see how a town of a few thousand inhabitants has built its cultural identity for decades, bridging the coastal tourist vocation with the life of the inland village.
Il Protagonista — edition 2026
Il Protagonista 2026 in Vibonati
The 2026 edition maintains the formula that the Municipality of Vibonati has followed for nearly forty years: multiple evenings spread throughout the year, each dedicated to a different personality, featuring a public dialogue before the presentation of the award.
The first event took place on February 21 in the Conference Hall of the Museo Logos, within the San Francesco di Paola Monastery complex, honoring Father Roberto Faccenda with a presentation of his book. On July 22, the scene shifted to the coast, in Piazzetta Cattel in Villammare, for the awarding of Dr. Tommaso Pellegrino, breast surgeon at the Federico II University Hospital in Naples and regional councilor of Campania: an evening dedicated to the value of medicine, prevention, and service to the community.
Among the year's honorees is Irene Grandi, one of the most beloved voices in Italian music, whose concert in Villammare is scheduled for August 17. The award is part of the «Vibonati Villammare Estate 2026» program, which also includes the Gusto Italia in Tour food festival on the promenade (August 6-16), Rioni in Festa in the historic center, the Cinema under the Stars series, and, closing the season, the Villammare Film Festival & Friends.
Programme Il Protagonista 2026
Saturday, February 21, 2026 — Vibonati, Museo Logos
7:30 PM, Conference Hall of the Museo Logos (San Francesco di Paola Monastery complex). Award presented to Father Roberto Faccenda. Official greetings from Mayor Manuel Borrelli and parish priest Father Vincenzo Contaldi; followed by a dialogue with Maria Emilia Cobucci regarding the book «A(R)MARSI con cinque ciottoli», covering spirituality, personal experience, and inner growth.
Wednesday, July 22, 2026 — Villammare, Piazzetta Cattel
9:30 PM. «Il Protagonista 2026» for Medicine presented to Dr. Tommaso Pellegrino. Opening with greetings from Mayor Manuel Borrelli; followed by a dialogue led by Prof. Vincenzo Abramo on public health, prevention, waiting lists, staff shortages, and the future of the Campania healthcare system. The award presentation concludes the evening.
August 2026 — Villammare, Music
Among the honorees of the 2026 edition is singer-songwriter Irene Grandi. Her concert in Villammare is set for August 17 in Piazza Don Giuseppe Maria Paci, a stop on her summer tour «Fiera di Me 2026», featuring the hits that have defined her career.
Around the award
The 2026 summer program also includes a performance by Enzo Avitabile with Mimmo Cavallaro, the «Febbre Italiana» dance show, the presentation of «Una mattina gloriosa» by Antonio Monda, the 2026 Petrosa Award for «Quattro volte me» by Monica Oriente, six Cinema under the Stars events between Vibonati and Villammare, «Gusto Italia in Tour» on the promenade from August 6 to 16, and the Villammare Film Festival & Friends to close the season.
Highlights Il Protagonista 2026
- Irene Grandi awarded for music, in concert in Villammare on August 17 in Piazza Don Giuseppe Maria Paci.
- Il Protagonista for Medicine awarded to Dr. Tommaso Pellegrino, July 22 in Piazzetta Cattel, with a dialogue led by Prof. Vincenzo Abramo.
- Father Roberto Faccenda awarded February 21 at the Museo Logos, with a book presentation.
- An award running for nearly forty years, alternating between the historic center of Vibonati and the Villammare promenade.
- Evenings integrated into the «Vibonati Villammare Estate 2026» program, featuring open-air cinema, literary meetings, and street food.
Prices Il Protagonista 2026
Practical information — Il Protagonista
How to get there
Villammare is the coastal hamlet of Vibonati, located on the SS18 Tirrena Inferiore road in the Gulf of Policastro. By train, the reference station is Sapri, on the Tyrrhenian line, located a few kilometers away and connected to Naples, Salerno, and Calabria; from there, you can continue by bus or taxi. By car, take the A2 del Mediterraneo motorway (exits for the Gulf of Policastro) and follow the coast. The nearest airports are Salerno Costa d'Amalfi and Naples Capodichino.
Where it takes place
Summer evenings are held in the squares of Villammare (Piazzetta Cattel, Piazza Portosalvo, Piazza Don Giuseppe Maria Paci); winter events and book presentations take place in the Conference Hall of the Museo Logos, within the San Francesco di Paola Monastery in Vibonati.
Tips
Award ceremonies generally begin late in the evening (from 9:30 PM onwards in summer): it is advisable to arrive early, as the squares fill up quickly. The updated calendar is published by the Municipality of Vibonati and covered by the local Cilento press. For accommodation, Villammare and nearby Sapri offer the majority of the area's lodging facilities.
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Where does it take place — Il Protagonista
Piazzetta Cattel (Villammare) e Museo Logos (Vibonati)