Festival della Bellezza

15/06/2022 - 10:00 | 10/10/2022 - 10:00

The ninth edition of the Festival della Bellezza is centered on the concept of “art within art”: the UNESCO World Heritage sites of the Veneto region, the festival’s traditional venue, are joined by other iconic locations representing Italy’s historical and artistic heritage, spanning from the 5th century B.C. (Temple of Segesta) to the second half of the 20th century (Burri’s Cretto), passing through cities of art such as Rome and Florence and epoch-making works such as Leonardo’s Last Supper. The theme of this edition is “Myths and Taboos. Iconic Figures and Works Between Ideas and Symbols,” with a focus on Italy between the 1950s and 1980s.

More than 30 events are scheduled from June through October, and here is a preview of some of them. Massimo Recalcati will open the series on June 15 at the Roman Theater in Verona with a lecture on the Bible and psychoanalysis.

Info and reservations

The Venues In this project, organized in collaboration with the Minister of Tourism and the Presidency of the Veneto Region, Verona and the Veneto region remain at the center of the stage: Verona’s Roman Theater will serve as the main venue for the events—from June 15 to 21 and from September 20 to 25—which will extend from the shores of Lake Garda to the 16th-century Villa Guarienti in Brenzone, to Venice, with events also taking place in historic villas in Valpolicella (Mosconi Bertani and Guerrieri Rizzardi in Negrar), at the Palladian Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza (3 events), and at the Palazzo della Ragione in Padua. Other events on Lake Garda will take place on the island and in historic sites with poetic associations: the Grotte di Catullo in Sirmione and D’Annunzio’s Vittoriale. Monterosso, associated with Montale, also has poetic references and, like Mantua and Erice, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

PROGRAM

The opening session with Massimo Recalcati on the Bible and psychoanalysis sets the stage for a series of reflections on the founding myths of our identity, presented in classic venues by Umberto Galimberti, Massimo Cacciari, and Igor Sibaldi—spanning Greek tragedy, epic poetry, and philosophy all the way to Nietzsche, Freud, and Musil. The featured figure of this edition is Pasolini, one hundred years after his birth: several events are dedicated to him, the first of which—featuring Carlo Lucarelli and Dacia Maraini—have already been announced. With reference to myths and taboos, Vittorio Sgarbi, Melania Mazzucco, Massimiliano Finazzer Flory, and Giordano Bruno Guerri will discuss the personalities and works of great artists such as Klimt and Schiele, Balthus, Leonardo, and Van Gogh.

Covering the period from the 1950s to the 1980s, Stefano Massini will discuss postwar love through the lens of cinema; Tullio Solenghi will present a show on Woody Allen; Federico Buffa will present one on the 1982 World Cup; Aldo Grasso will present a lecture on television personalities and legends, Morgan a lecture-concert on the Beatles and 1960s rock, Marco Ongaro on Serge Gainsbourg, and Simone Cristicchi, in a national premiere, a “mystical concert for Battiato.” Other events featuring singer-songwriters include Vinicio Capossela’s concert on the “legendary” albums from his early days and Tasmania’s performance of her own songs and interpretations of cult classics from Ciampi to De André. Federico Rampini will speak on myths and taboos with reference to current events, and, with wit and sarcasm, Guia Soncini and Arianna Porcelli Safonov, who will present a theatrical monologue created for the Festival at the Teatro Olimpico.

Organizers and Partners

The Festival della Bellezza remains one of Italy’s most original and prestigious national events, featuring a series of unique, interconnected events centered on the theme of the year’s edition, held in exceptionally evocative locations. Sponsored by the Veneto Region and the City of Verona, it is organized by the Idem Association, with concept and artistic direction by Alcide Marchioro, general coordination by Alessandra Zecchini, editorial programming by Marilisa Capuano, and institutional relations by Carlo Renzo Dioguardi and Nicola Pasini. Its main partner is Cattolica Assicurazioni (Generali Group). Supported by Fondazione Banca Popolare di Verona, in collaboration with Agsm-Aim. Main sponsors are Sparkasse, Das-difesa legale, Newchem, Zanolli, and Bulgarini; the hospitality partner is the Due Torri Hotel.

Festival program on the website