Meme Ciocca National Poetry Competition
The poetry competition in Crova celebrating the Italian language and the Piedmontese dialect
About Meme Ciocca Prize
A poetry prize born in the heart of the Vercelli area
The Meme Ciocca National Poetry Competition is one of the most cherished cultural initiatives in Crova, a small town of just over three hundred inhabitants in the province of Vercelli, Piedmont. Organized by the Pro Loco of Crova APS with municipal patronage, the competition has grown with every edition, reaching a truly national scale: the third edition in 2025 received around one hundred and fifty poems from all over Italy.
Who the prize is dedicated to
The competition is named after Meme Ciocca, a historic figure in the town: an educator from Crova who passed away at a young age, whose memory lives on through the words of poets. The prize was created with a dual purpose: to promote the Italian language and, simultaneously, to safeguard and revitalize the Piedmontese dialect, a core part of the region's identity.
Competition categories
The competition features two main sections for poets, both with open themes:
- Poetry in Italian, published or unpublished;
- Poetry in the Piedmontese dialect, accompanied by a literal translation into Italian.
These are joined by a school section dedicated to the theme "Traditions and Territory," divided between primary schools (with a collective class composition) and lower secondary schools (with individual poems). Each entry can be up to fifty lines long.
A quality jury and awards
Entries are evaluated anonymously by a jury composed of poets, publishers, and representatives of the local press. Winners in each section receive plaques for first, second, and third place, while Notizia Oggi Vercelli, a long-standing partner of the prize, awards a special recognition and publishes the winning poems in its pages. Participation is completely free: there is no entry fee, a deliberate choice to encourage poets of all ages.
The awards ceremony at the Castello di Crova
The most anticipated moment is the awards ceremony, which takes place in the hall of the Castello di Crova in July, coinciding with the town's Patronal Feast and the famous Piglet Festival. On this day, the community of Crova welcomes poets and enthusiasts from all over Italy for an event that blends culture, tradition, and conviviality in the heart of the Vercelli area.
Meme Ciocca Prize — edition 2026
2026 Edition — the fourth
The fourth edition of the Meme Ciocca National Poetry Competition is organized by the Pro Loco of Crova APS in collaboration with Notizia Oggi Vercelli. Once again, participation is free, and the categories include poetry in Italian, poetry in the Piedmontese dialect (with literal translation), and the school section on the theme "Traditions and Territory".
Deadlines and awards
The deadline for submitting compositions was May 31, 2026. The awards ceremony will take place in July at the Castello di Crova, on the occasion of the Patronal Feast.
Programme Meme Ciocca Prize 2026
The detailed program for the 2026 awards ceremony, including the exact date and the list of winners, will be announced in the weeks leading up to the event. The ceremony will be held in July at the Castello di Crova during the town's Patronal Feast.
Typical structure of the day, based on previous editions:
- Welcome for poets and guests in the hall of the Castello di Crova;
- Reading of the winning poems in the Italian and Piedmontese dialect sections;
- Presentation of plaques to the top three winners in each section;
- Special award from Notizia Oggi Vercelli and awards for the school section.
Highlights Meme Ciocca Prize 2026
Fourth edition of the prize. Confirmation of the two sections for poets (Italian and Piedmontese dialect) and the "Traditions and Territory" school section. Awards ceremony in July at the Castello di Crova during the Patronal Feast.
Prices Meme Ciocca Prize 2026
Practical information — Meme Ciocca Prize
How to participate
Registration is free and is done exclusively via email by sending the compositions and the application form to [email protected]. For the 2026 edition, the deadline for submissions is May 31, 2026. The full competition rules and the form can be downloaded from the Pro Loco of Crova channels.
How to get there
Crova is located about 15 km west of Vercelli, in the rice-growing plains of the Vercelli area. By car, it can be reached from the A4 motorway (Vercelli Ovest exit), then continuing on provincial roads. The reference railway station is Vercelli, from where you can continue by car or local connections.
The awards ceremony
The ceremony is held at the Castello di Crova during the Patronal Feast in July. The exact date and time are communicated to the winners at least seven days in advance.
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Where does it take place — Meme Ciocca Prize
Castello di Crova
Castello di Crova, 13040 Crova