Ricucire
Environmental volunteering and culture to help Linosa recover after Cyclone Harry
About Ricucire
An island stitching itself back together after the cyclone
On January 20, 2026, Cyclone Harry struck Linosa, the smallest of the Pelagie Islands, in the Municipality of Lampedusa and Linosa (Province of Agrigento, Sicily). Waves over twelve meters high battered the island's shores for hours, destroying dozens of boats, eroding landing points, and damaging the natural ecosystems of a territory with just over four hundred inhabitants. From that devastation, and the desire not to leave the island alone, comes Ricucire: a project that weaves together the practical work of environmental reconstruction with a dense cultural program, running from June 21 to July 6, 2026.
Environmental volunteering: three work sites for the land
The heart of Ricucire is a volunteer camp divided into three main interventions, involving about one hundred people from all over Italy:
- Debris removal washed up by the sea along the coasts and landing points;
- Restoration of Mediterranean vegetation and reforestation of damaged areas;
- Trail recovery and restoration of naturalistic areas compromised by the storm surge.
Special attention is dedicated to Cala Pozzolana di Ponente, one of the few Italian beaches where the Caretta caretta sea turtle nests: protecting its habitat is one of the project's priorities.
Culture every evening, open to the community
Alongside the work sites, Ricucire offers a free cultural program every evening, open to islanders and visitors alike: literary meetings, theatrical performances, workshops, a photography exhibition, and film screenings. It is a way to re-tie, through words and art, the bond between the Linosa community and its landscape.
Who promotes Ricucire
The project was born from the collaboration between naturalist biologist Dario D'Emanuele, founder of the Nereidee Linosa APS association, and writer Claudia Lanteri, author of the novel L'isola e il tempo set in Linosa, with the support of the islanders' committee and the patronage of the Municipality of Lampedusa and Linosa. "Linosa is not a place that tourism can consume and abandon," Lanteri notes, describing Ricucire as "a collective fabric made of relationships, care, and participation." More than just a festival, it is a community experiment that turns Sicily's smaller islands into a laboratory for environmental and cultural regeneration.
Ricucire — edition 2026
The 2026 edition marks the first time for Ricucire, a project created to respond to the damage caused by Cyclone Harry, which struck Linosa (Municipality of Lampedusa and Linosa, Province of Agrigento) on January 20, 2026. For over two weeks, the island welcomes about one hundred participants engaged in environmental volunteer work sites and a rich evening cultural program, free and open to islanders.
Programme Ricucire 2026
Environmental volunteering (June 21 – July 6)
Throughout the duration of the project, three work sites operate in parallel: coastal debris removal, Mediterranean vegetation restoration, and trail and natural area recovery, with priority interventions at Cala Pozzolana di Ponente, a nesting site for the Caretta caretta.
Opening night — June 21
- Project opening with a concert by the musical project Lero Lero (Alessio Bondì and Fabio Rizzo).
Evening cultural program (ongoing until July 6)
Every evening, meetings, shows, and screenings are open to the community, with guests including:
- Giosuè Calaciura — writer (literary meeting);
- Gianluigi Gherzi — actor and director (theater);
- Lia Ceravolo — actress (theater);
- artistic workshops led by Blanche Bonnet and Piero Zambuto;
- photography exhibition dedicated to the island and the cyclone;
- screening of the film Sciatunostro;
- archaeological walk and project assembly with the island community.
Highlights Ricucire 2026
- Inaugural concert by the musical project Lero Lero (Alessio Bondì and Fabio Rizzo) on June 21.
- Meeting with writer Giosuè Calaciura.
- Theatrical performances with Gianluigi Gherzi and Lia Ceravolo.
- Volunteer work sites for the environmental rebirth of Linosa after Cyclone Harry.
Prices Ricucire 2026
Practical information — Ricucire
How to get there
Linosa is part of the Pelagie archipelago, in the Strait of Sicily. It can be reached by sea via scheduled connections from Porto Empedocle (Agrigento), often with a stopover in Lampedusa; during the summer months, flights to Lampedusa are also available, from where you can continue by ship or hydrofoil to Linosa.
Participation
Evening cultural events are free and open to the community and visitors on the island. Participation in the volunteer work sites is reserved for volunteers registered for the project, organized by the Nereidee Linosa APS Association.
Tips
The island is small and accommodation is limited: those wishing to stay during Ricucire should book well in advance. We recommend comfortable clothing, hiking shoes for the trails, and absolute respect for protected ecosystems, starting with the Caretta caretta nesting area.
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Where does it take place — Ricucire
Isola di Linosa