Poetico. Festival of Authorial Poetry (Longiano stop)

Poetico in Longiano: authorial poetry within the walls of the Malatestiana Castle

Poetico. Festival of Authorial Poetry is a travelling exhibition dedicated to contemporary poetry which, on its stop in Longiano, opens the programme of the second edition in the hilly village of the Province of Forlì-Cesena. The meetings take place in the evocative Sala dell'Arengo of the Malatestiana Castle, home to the Tito Balestra Foundation, one of the most important cultural centres in Emilia-Romagna, which houses one of the richest collections of modern and contemporary art in the region.

A widespread festival between Romagna and the hills

Conceived and promoted by the cultural association Metropolis with the artistic direction of Marco Colonna — journalist, writer, and poet — Poetico is a widespread event that, in its second edition, crosses the borders of the Forlì area to span ten events in nine municipalities across the provinces of Forlì-Cesena and Ravenna: in addition to Longiano, the festival touches Forlì, Brisighella, Castrocaro Terme-Terra del Sole, Meldola, Modigliana, Predappio, Forlimpopoli, Santa Sofia, and Ravenna. The project, realised in collaboration with the association Teatro delle Forchette and with the support of the Fondazione Cassa dei Risparmi di Forlì, was created to celebrate poetry as authentic artistic creation and to investigate the links between the poetic word and the figurative arts.

A poetic polyphony in the heart of the Balestra collection

The Longiano stop is distinguished by its setting: the Tito Balestra Foundation hosts works by masters such as Sironi, Guttuso, Morandi, and Chagall, and participants in the events can access the permanent collection free of charge. The events combine readings, presentations, and conversations that bring contemporary poetry closer to the public in an informal and participatory atmosphere, where word and image dialogue in a true "poetic polyphony".

The national poetry prize

At the heart of the exhibition is also a national poetry competition for published works, with a jury of poets and critics chaired by Matteo Zattoni. The announcement of the winners is scheduled for the Santa Sofia stop, while the festival's grand finale will be held in Ravenna, crowning a journey that makes Romagna a crossroads of contemporary Italian poetry.

Why it's worth it

• Free meetings with the protagonists of contemporary Italian poetry
• Exceptional setting: the Malatestiana Castle and the Tito Balestra Foundation
• Free access to the permanent art collection (Sironi, Guttuso, Morandi, Chagall)
• A widespread festival that unites the Municipality of Longiano and all of Romagna in the Forlì and Ravenna areas
• Dialogue between poetry, narrative, and visual arts

The Longiano stop is a precious opportunity to discover authorial poetry in one of the most fascinating villages of Emilia-Romagna, combining a walk through the historic centre with an evening dedicated to words and beauty.