CACCURI, Calabria — Four authors are competing for the Caccuri Literary Prize, one of Italy’s leading awards for nonfiction writing, which opens its 15th edition in the Calabrian hill town on July 27. The finalists were announced on May 16 at the Turin International Book Fair, at the Calabria region’s stand.
“The Caccuri Prize represents an extraordinary opportunity for cultural growth,” Caccuri Mayor Luigi Quintieri said, describing the event as a national point of reference linking literature, current affairs, and local heritage.
The finalists are Tommaso Cerno for “Le ragioni di Giuda” (Rizzoli), Pietro Grasso for “U Maxi” (Feltrinelli), Cecilia Sala for “I figli dell’odio” (Mondadori), and Luca Sommi for “Solo amore” (Paper First). The winner will receive the Silver Tower, a trophy crafted by Calabrian goldsmith Michele Affidato, and will be proclaimed on August 10.
Roots in a Renaissance era town
The prize is rooted in Caccuri, a medieval town in the pre-Sila area of Crotone province, the birthplace of Cicco Simonetta, a Renaissance-era statesman who served as adviser to the Sforza family in Milan. Organized by the Accademia dei Caccuriani, the event is traditionally held in the first 10 days of August and places nonfiction writing at the center of a broader debate on contemporary issues, alongside a program of film, theatre, music, and food.
The stage has hosted prominent figures from Italy’s intellectual and media landscape, including prosecutor Nicola Gratteri, economist Carlo Cottarelli, writer Dacia Maraini, and journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi. The winner is chosen through a process combining the judgment of a national jury of experts with a popular jury of members of the Accademia dei Caccuriani.
A region to explore beyond the awards
This year the prize is also promoted with the Discover Italy Foundation, a nonprofit working to promote Calabria’s historic villages and open new cultural tourism routes.
A stay in Caccuri offers the chance to explore the surrounding area, away from the peak summer crowds of mid-August. Nearby attractions include Santa Severina, Crotone, and the sea at Le Castella, as well as the Florense Abbey in San Giovanni in Fiore. The area, set in the mountain air of the Sila plateau, is known for Calabrian food and wine traditions.
Last year’s prize went to journalist Gad Lerner for his essay “Gaza,” ahead of finalists former RAI President Monica Maggioni, Editor-in-Chief of Il Giornale Alessandro Sallusti, and fomer Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano. Last year’s edition also awarded its Fiction Prize to Anna Mallamo for her novel “Col buio me la vedo io” (Einaudi).
