La Rocca Award

A cultural award in the heart of the Rocca

The La Rocca Award is one of the most cherished cultural events in Montecchio Emilia, a town in the Val d'Enza in the province of Reggio Emilia, in the heart of Emilia-Romagna. The award ceremony takes place in the picturesque Sala della Rocca of the Este Castle, the fortress that dominates the historic center of the town and gives the award its name.

An event initiated by Nina Miselli

The award was born from the initiative of writer Nina Miselli, president and founder of the event, supported over the years by long-time collaborators such as Angela Angolano and Eugenio Pattacini. The event enjoys the patronage of the Pro Loco and the Municipality of Montecchio Emilia and has progressively established itself as a benchmark for the cultural life of the area, attracting guests and awardees from all over Italy.

The award categories

The La Rocca Award is not a single-theme competition, but a cross-disciplinary recognition that celebrates prominent figures in various fields each year:

• Literature and historical literature, with writers and authors from the national scene
• Journalism, honoring prominent media figures and voices
• Art, dedicated to painters, sculptors, and visual artists
• Music and opera, with awards for performers and sopranos
• Sport, for those who have brought honor to the region

Words and music in the Sala della Rocca

The ceremony combines the reading of the citations, entrusted to expert voices, with live musical interludes that accompany the award presentations. Opera music plays a central role: in recent editions, the Sala della Rocca has hosted performances by sopranos accompanied by piano, transforming the award ceremony into a true concert-event.

Montecchio Emilia and its castle

The heart of the event is the Este Castle of Montecchio Emilia, an ancient medieval fortress modified over the centuries, now a venue for exhibitions, events, and cultural initiatives. The historic setting lends a special charm to the award, intertwining the recognition of contemporary excellence with the architectural heritage of the province of Reggio Emilia.