Poetico. National Festival of Author Poetry (Meldola stop)

Poetico in Meldola: Author Poetry in the Bidente Valley

Poetico. National Festival of Author Poetry is an itinerant review dedicated to contemporary poetry which, at its Meldola stop, brings the voices of the most recognized Italian poets to the Municipality in the Province of Forlì-Cesena. The event takes place in the Sala Nella Versari, on the second floor of the historic Palazzo Doria Pamphili, in Piazza Felice Orsini, in the heart of the Meldola historic center overlooking the Bidente valley.

A Festival Spread Across the Forlì and Ravenna Areas of Romagna

Conceived and promoted by the Metropolis cultural association with the artistic direction of Marco Colonna — writer, poet, and journalist — Poetico is a widespread event featuring ten appointments in nine municipalities between the provinces of Forlì-Cesena and Ravenna: in addition to Meldola, the festival includes Forlì, Forlimpopoli, Longiano, Brisighella, Castrocaro Terme-Terra del Sole, Predappio, Modigliana, Santa Sofia, and Ravenna. The project, created in collaboration with the Teatro delle Forchette association and with the support of the Fondazione Cassa dei Risparmi di Forlì, aims to celebrate poetry as an authentic artistic creation and to explore the links between poetic language and the arts.

Guests and Author Poets

Each evening is built around a nationally recognized poet, introduced and discussed live. The Meldola stop featured Stefano Dal Bianco, winner of the Premio Strega Poesia 2024 with his collection Paradiso. Other guests of the review include names such as Gian Ruggero Manzoni, Antonella Anedda, Ivonne Mussoni, Sonia Gentili, Silvia Bre, and Antonio Bux. The encounters combine readings, book presentations, and conversations that bring contemporary poetry closer to the audience in an informal and participatory atmosphere.

The National Poetry Prize

At the heart of the review is also a national poetry competition for published works, with a jury chaired by the poet Matteo Zattoni and composed of, among others, Gianfranco Fabbri, Stefano Maldini, Francesca Abbiati, and Marco Colonna, with cash prizes for the winners. The announcement of the winners takes place at the Santa Sofia stop, while the final event is held in Ravenna, at Dante's House Museum.

Why It's Worth It

• Free encounters with the protagonists of contemporary Italian poetry
• Exceptional setting: the historic Palazzo Doria Pamphili in the center of Meldola
• A widespread festival uniting the Municipality of Meldola and the entire Forlì and Ravenna Romagna region
• Dialogue between author poetry and the national prize

The Meldola stop is a precious opportunity to discover author poetry in one of the most characteristic villages of Emilia-Romagna, combining a stroll through the historic center with an evening dedicated to words and beauty.