Invitation to Poetry – Festival of Cultures

Poetry as a Language of Peace

In Trieste, a border city of a thousand languages, poetry has always held a special value. From this vocation, Invitation to Poetry was born, a competition promoted by the Associazione Poesia e Solidarietà as part of the project "Poetry and Solidarity – Language of Peoples", active since 2000 to spread the positive values of poetry, art, and solidarity through readings in significant city locations.

A Competition Open to All

The competition is free and open to anyone, regardless of age. Each participant can submit only one unpublished poem on any theme, with a maximum of forty lines, in Italian, a foreign language (with translation), or dialect. A jury selects the best texts, which are awarded and published free of charge in a dedicated anthology. Among the awards is a special plaque in memory of Professor Gabriella Valera, the historical soul of the project.

The Festival of Cultures

The awards ceremony, hosted in a historic venue in Trieste, is the heart of a broader Festival of Cultures: a day of poetry readings, folk music, dances, and storytelling, organized in collaboration with numerous cultural associations in the city. An event that transforms poetry into a collective celebration and an encounter between different communities.

Trieste, Capital of Poetry

The Associazione Poesia e Solidarietà is also known for the prestigious Castello di Duino International Competition, making Trieste a key reference point for poetry in Italy. Participating in Invitation to Poetry means joining a network that, for over twenty years, has intertwined verses, solidarity, and dialogue between cultures in the name of peace.