Paolo Prestigiacomo Literature Festival
Art, poetry, and landscapes in the Madonie village of San Mauro Castelverde
About Prestigiacomo Award
A literary festival in the Madonie mountains
The Paolo Prestigiacomo Literature Festival is a cultural event that San Mauro Castelverde, a village perched in the heart of the Madonie Park in the province of Palermo, dedicates to the memory of the poet and intellectual who was born and lived here. Originally founded as a Poetry Festival, the event has gradually expanded to become a celebration of contemporary literature, with a special focus on the relationship between artistic creation, landscape, and the identity of Sicily's inland territories.
The Paolo Prestigiacomo Award
At the heart of the event is the Paolo Prestigiacomo Literary Award, which grants recognition across multiple categories, including an Under 35 section for younger voices and an Absolute category. Over the years, the award has attracted prominent poets and writers to San Mauro Castelverde, who engage with the community through readings, presentations, and the characteristic "Literary Trials," moments of critical discussion regarding the awarded works.
Art, landscape, and tradition
The festival complements literature with a rich program of visual arts. The artist residency invites painters and creatives to stay in the village and produce works inspired by the Madonie setting, which are then presented to the public during the event. There is no shortage of artistic parades, exhibitions, performances, and initiatives that directly involve the residents, including local seamstresses showcasing traditional San Mauro folk costumes.
A village turned stage
Activities take place in various locations throughout the historic center of San Mauro Castelverde: from the poet's birthplace to the Salone Badia, and from the Municipal Theater to Corso Umberto. The event is part of a broader project to enhance the appeal of Sicilian inland villages, blending culture, hiking, and popular traditions. For those visiting the Madonie, it is an opportunity to discover an authentic corner of Sicily through the lens of poetry and art.
Prestigiacomo Award — edition 2026
13th edition — June 21, 2026
The thirteenth edition of the Paolo Prestigiacomo Literature Award and Festival was held on Sunday, June 21, 2026, in San Mauro Castelverde, with a program focused on the relationship between landscape, memory, and contemporary identity. The day showcased the results of an artist residency and the winning work of the literary award.
The initiative is part of a village revitalization project funded by PNRR resources, coordinated by the Municipal Administration.
Programme Prestigiacomo Award 2026
Sunday, June 21, 2026
- 18:00 — "The Breath of the Landscape": presentation of paintings created by artists Marisa Battaglia and Judith Boy during their artist residency in the village.
- Presentation of the winning work: "Grimorio di San Mauro Castelverde" by writer and poet Paola Silvia Dolci, winner of the Paolo Prestigiacomo Literary Award — a contemporary grimoire blending poetry, poetic prose, and oracular fragments.
- 19:00 — "Sicily in a New Guise": an artistic fashion show conceived by Marisa Battaglia and Judith Boy and hosted by Alessandro Cassata, featuring outfits and creations inspired by the island's colors and landscapes, in a journey through fashion, art, and tradition. A particularly significant highlight was the involvement of San Mauro Castelverde's seamstresses with traditional local folk costumes.
Highlights Prestigiacomo Award 2026
Prices Prestigiacomo Award 2026
Practical information — Prestigiacomo Award
How to get there
San Mauro Castelverde is located in the Madonie Park, in the province of Palermo. By car, it can be reached from the A19 Palermo-Catania motorway (taking the exit for the Madonie) and following the internal provincial roads; the village is about two hours from Palermo. The nearest train station is Castelbuono or on the Tyrrhenian line, from where you can continue by car.
Admission
Admission to festival events is generally free.
Tips
The village is in the mountains: it is advisable to bring clothing suitable for cool evenings, even in summer. Activities are spread across the squares and sites of the historic center, all easily reachable on foot.
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Where does it take place — Prestigiacomo Award
Centro storico di San Mauro Castelverde