Raffaele Pellicciotta National Literary Award

A literary award in the heart of Abruzzo

The Raffaele Pellicciotta National Literary Award is one of the most deeply rooted cultural events in the small town of Perano, in the province of Chieti, in the Abruzzo region. Founded in 2001, the competition is dedicated to the memory of Raffaele Pellicciotta, a doctor, humanist, and man of culture from Perano. Over the years, it has become a benchmark for writers, poets, and literature enthusiasts from all over Italy and Italian communities abroad.

The figure of Raffaele Pellicciotta

The award was created to honor an intellectual who knew how to combine scientific expertise with civic and cultural passion. The event is managed by an organizing committee chaired by the architect Maria Gemma Pellicciotta, Raffaele's daughter, with artistic direction by the artist Luigi Baldacci. In 2011, the Municipality of Perano officially took ownership of the award, ensuring its continuity and prestige.

Competition categories

Participation is free and open to all ages. The call for entries includes several sections, divided into the Youth category (ages 8 to 17) and the Adult category (ages 18 and up), as well as a section dedicated to schools:

• Short Story — short fiction for adults and youth
• Poetry — compositions in the Italian language
• Dialect Poetry — promoting local Abruzzese dialects
• Fairy Tale — reserved for adults
• Video — multimedia section

Recognition and prestige

Throughout its history, the Pellicciotta Award has received important institutional recognition: in 2008, it was awarded the Silver Medal of the President of the Italian Republic, and in 2009, it received the patronage of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers. The event also enjoys the support of the Abruzzo Region and the Province of Chieti. A defining element of the award is the monumental ceramic and steel sculpture by Luigi Baldacci, the Homage to Flaiano, which stands five meters tall.

An event for the Perano community

In addition to the awards ceremony, judged by a jury of eleven cultural figures, the award involves the entire Perano community with moments of conviviality and the promotion of local traditions. In a village in the Chieti hinterland, the event represents a precious opportunity to bring different generations together around the value of the written word and culture.