Palpitare di Nessi Festival
A civic festival between Palermo and Trappeto inspired by the legacy of Danilo Dolci
About Palpitare di Nessi
A civic festival in the heart of Western Sicily
Palpitare di Nessi is a festival that weaves together theatre, cinema, music, photography, and civic debate, spread across the city of Palermo and the Borgo Danilo Dolci in Trappeto, a small coastal town in the province of Palermo, Sicily. The event was created to keep alive the legacy of Danilo Dolci (1924-1997), a sociologist, poet, educator, and non-violence activist—often called the "Italian Gandhi"—who launched his famous struggles against hunger and the mafia right here in Trappeto.
The origins and the Borgo
The festival was born in 2024 as part of the celebrations for the centenary of Dolci's birth. The heart of the event is the Borgo di Trappeto, a training centre designed by Dolci himself in 1968 with architect Giorgio Stöckel and the consultancy of Bruno Zevi: a place conceived for courses, seminars, workshops, concerts, and performances, now returned to the community as a space for culture and civic engagement.
Art and civic commitment
Each edition of the festival proposes a theme around which performances, concerts, screenings, photo exhibitions, and round tables revolve. The guiding thread remains Dolci's conviction that art, dialogue, and the building of networks between people are fundamental tools for promoting a message of peace and non-violence. The festival particularly highlights reciprocal maieutics, the participatory educational method developed by Dolci, through workshops and meetings aimed at students, educators, and citizens.
A programme between Palermo and Trappeto
The format includes an opening day in Palermo, often at the Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa, followed by events at the Borgo di Trappeto, where music, theatre, and cinema alternate with conversations on legality, migration, historical memory, and human rights. The festival is organised by the Centro per lo Sviluppo Creativo Danilo Dolci, CESIE, and the entities managing the Borgo, with the involvement of numerous local associations.
Why attend
- An immersive cultural experience in a site that symbolises Sicilian civic engagement
- Theatrical performances, concerts, and screenings featuring nationally renowned artists and guests
- Meetings and round tables on peace, legality, and social justice
- Free admission to most events at the Borgo
- An opportunity to discover Trappeto, its coastline, and its history linked to Danilo Dolci
Palpitare di Nessi — edition 2026
2026 Edition: "Legality and Disobedience"
The third edition of the festival, from June 25 to 28, 2026, is dedicated to the theme "Legality and Disobedience", an invitation to reflect on the complex relationship between norms, individual conscience, and social justice. The programme alternates theatre, cinema, music, photo exhibitions, and round tables between Palermo and Trappeto.
Opening in Palermo
The inauguration will be held on June 25 at 9:30 PM at Spazio Franco, at the Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa in Palermo, with the show "Roberto Baggio" by Davide Enia (advance booking via the Mercurio Festival).
At the Borgo Danilo Dolci in Trappeto
From June 26 to 28, the festival moves to the Borgo. Among the most anticipated events is the presentation of the 1st Palpitare di Nessi Award to Mimmo Lucano, former mayor of Riace (June 26, 6:30 PM). The programme also includes the play about Falcone and Borsellino "L'ultima estate", a talk by magistrate Franca Imbergamo (National Anti-Mafia Prosecutor's Office), round tables with independent publishers such as Sellerio, Mesogea, and AltraEconomia, photo exhibitions by Giulio Di Meo, reciprocal maieutics workshops with INDIRE, and celebrations for the 25th anniversary of CESIE.
Programme Palpitare di Nessi 2026
2026 Programme (summary)
- Thursday, June 25, 9:30 PM – Palermo, Spazio Franco (Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa): "Roberto Baggio", show by Davide Enia (advance booking)
- Friday, June 26, 6:30 PM – Borgo Danilo Dolci, Trappeto: Presentation of the 1st Palpitare di Nessi Award to Mimmo Lucano
- June 26-28 – Borgo Danilo Dolci: "L'ultima estate" play about Falcone and Borsellino, meeting with magistrate Franca Imbergamo, round tables with publishers Sellerio, Mesogea, and AltraEconomia
- Photo exhibitions by Giulio Di Meo, reciprocal maieutics workshops with INDIRE, celebrations for the 25th anniversary of CESIE
- Speech by Gianna Fracassi (General Secretary of FLC-CGIL)
The full programme is published on the website danilodolci.org/festival2026.
Highlights Palpitare di Nessi 2026
- "Roberto Baggio", show by Davide Enia (Palermo, June 25)
- 1st Palpitare di Nessi Award to Mimmo Lucano
- "L'ultima estate", play about Falcone and Borsellino
- Meeting with magistrate Franca Imbergamo (National Anti-Mafia Prosecutor's Office)
- Photo exhibitions by Giulio Di Meo and the 25th anniversary of CESIE
Prices Palpitare di Nessi 2026
Practical information — Palpitare di Nessi
How to get there
The opening day is held in Palermo, at the Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa (Spazio Franco), accessible by car and public transport. The Borgo Danilo Dolci is located in Trappeto, on the coast between Palermo and Castellammare del Golfo: about 40 km from Palermo along the A29 motorway (Trappeto-Balestrate exit), or by train to Trappeto on the Palermo-Trapani line.
Tickets
Most events at the Borgo have free admission. For some performances in Palermo (such as those hosted at Spazio Franco), advance booking is required via the Mercurio Festival box office.
Tips
We recommend checking the updated official programme on the Centro per lo Sviluppo Creativo Danilo Dolci website and booking in advance for evening performances with limited seating.
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Where does it take place — Palpitare di Nessi
Spazio Franco - Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa / Borgo Danilo Dolci (Trappeto)