Riviera dei Marmi Award

An award in the heart of the City of Marble

The Riviera dei Marmi Award is a major cultural event held annually in Custonaci, a small town in the province of Trapani known as the "City of Marble," home to Sicily's primary marble quarrying basin. At the foot of the scenic Mount Cofano, the event celebrates individuals who, through their work, have brought prestige to Sicilian culture and identity, blending landscape, tradition, and intellectual commitment.

A history spanning the decades

The award was established in 1964 at the initiative of the then-mayor of Custonaci, the poet Dino Grammatico, under the name "Riviera dei Marmi" International Poetry Prize. In the 1960s, it gained national fame: in 1968, the jury was chaired by the poet Lucio Piccolo, cousin of Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, and recipients included Nobel laureate Giuseppe Ungaretti and Maria Luisa Spaziani. During those years, major publishers like Mondadori and Rizzoli released volumes bearing the award's seal, a testament to its prestige.

After a long hiatus of nearly fifty years, the honor was revived in 2018 with an expanded scope: no longer just poetry, but also literature, journalism, and narrative. Recent winners include notable figures such as Emma Dante, Stefania Auci, Virman Cusenza, and Alberto Samonà.

The ceremony and the trophy

The evening takes place in the Municipal Gardens of Custonaci and is hosted by prominent figures from Sicilian journalism; recent editions have been presented by Tiziana Martorana, a journalist for TGR Rai. The ceremony alternates between award presentations and musical interludes featuring local artists. The trophy presented to the winners is a marble sculpture created by artist Giuseppe Cortese, depicting the distinctive profile of Mount Cofano: a direct tribute to the landscape and the marble-working heritage of the area.

The awarded excellence

The Riviera dei Marmi Award focuses on figures who embody Sicilian excellence in various fields: the judiciary, journalism, literature, theater, and civil engagement. Each edition features a selection of personalities introduced to the public through their professional and personal stories, set against a backdrop that combines high culture with deep roots in the Trapani region.

An event for the community

Organized by the Municipality of Custonaci with the patronage of the Regional Department of Cultural Heritage and Sicilian Identity, the award is an opportunity to promote the entire village and the Riviera dei Marmi. The evening, with free admission, attracts the public, authorities, and cultural professionals, confirming its status as one of the most anticipated events of September in Custonaci, in the heart of the province of Trapani.