Racalmare – Leonardo Sciascia – Città di Grotte International Literary Prize

A literary prize for readers, in the heart of Sicily

The Racalmare – Leonardo Sciascia – Città di Grotte International Literary Prize is one of Sicily's longest-running and most distinctive cultural events. Held in Grotte, a small town in the hinterland of the Agrigento province, it transforms Piazza Umberto I into a grand open-air literary salon each year. Promoted by the Municipality of Grotte, the prize attracts writers, publishers, and readers from all over Italy and beyond.

History: from Racalmare to Leonardo Sciascia

The prize was founded on December 1, 1980, as the Racalmare – Città di Grotte Prize, with "Racalmare" evoking the Arabic and rural roots of this land. In 1990, following the passing of Leonardo Sciascia, the writer originally from nearby Racalmuto, the event was renamed in his honor. Over the decades, the Racalmare has awarded some of the most prominent names in Italian and European fiction: Gesualdo Bufalino (1986 and 1996), Vincenzo Consolo (1988), the Spanish author Manuel Vázquez Montalbán (1989), and, with a Lifetime Achievement Award, Andrea Camilleri (2003).

The Popular Jury: the true soul of the prize

The feature that distinguishes the Racalmare from almost all other Italian literary awards is the Popular Jury. The winner among the finalist novels is not chosen by a committee of critics, but by a group of ordinary readers who, after reading the competing books, vote in person for their favorite title during the final evening. It is a way to return literature to its natural audience and to make the prize an authentic community celebration that involves the entire town of Grotte.

The final evening in the square

The highlight is the announcement ceremony, traditionally held at the end of August in Piazza Umberto I. Alongside the awarding of the winner chosen by the Popular Jury, the committee often presents a Lifetime Achievement Award to a prominent cultural figure. The event is organized by the Municipality of Grotte, in the province of Agrigento, and is a highly anticipated date for both reading enthusiasts and the local community.

Why it is worth attending

• A historic literary prize, active since 1980, set in an authentic village in the Agrigento hinterland.
• The rare thrill of seeing the winner decided by the vote of a jury of ordinary readers.
• Freshly published finalist novels, often by the best contemporary Italian authors.
• A free, open-air evening in the historic center of Grotte.