It will be a weekend dedicated to culture, music and the environment, that of Friday 20, Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 June that will see the “Mediterranean Book Festival” take place in Aspra. Organized by the “Proloco Bagheria Genius Loci” and Dr. Gino Gagliano, creator of the Festival, with the patronage of the municipality of Bagheria, the festival will be held on the terrace overlooking the sea in Piazza Crocicchia in the seaside village of Aspra. An event dedicated to the promotion of reading and culture, the Festival aims to become a point of reference for the dissemination of Mediterranean knowledge and traditions. The initiative is designed to involve a large and diverse audience, with particular attention to the new generations. The schools of the area will be protagonists through a dedicated literary competition, stimulating creativity and interest in reading among the youngest. The Mediterranean Book Festival will not only be an editorial showcase, but a true crossroads of cultural events. There will be meetings with authors, book presentations, debates and workshops, animated by the greatest skills and cultural associations present in the area. The goal is to create a constructive dialogue and common growth, enhancing local excellence and at the same time opening up to new perspectives. A distinctive element of the festival will be the openness towards the countries overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
Representatives of other Mediterranean cultural realities will be invited to share their traditions, compare and enrich the cultural panorama of Bagheria with new visions and significant exchanges. The Festival promises a unique atmosphere, enriched by: ornamental vegetation provided by local nurseries, pieces from the Anchovy Museum, carved wooden objects by local artists, components of typical Sicilian carts painted by local craftsmen. Every day, the little ones will be able to have fun with play activities and readings dedicated to children.

Program:
Day 20 June
Mediterranean Book Festival
18.00 – OPENING
18.10 – 20.30 Artistic Extemporaneous “Castronovo Pina; Ducato Concetta; Di Piazza Patrizia; Lanza Silvana; Provenzano Tommaso” + others
20.00 – 22.00 I LOVE READING!
20.00 – 24.00 Cavallaro Alba / Martorana Francesco = Musical Interventions
20.00- 24.00 Grisanti Galioto: Poetry readings (5/6)
20.00 – 24.00 Balistreri Michelangelo: (5/6) poetry recitation.
20.00 – 20.20 Guttuso Caterina = Bagheria, place of delights;
20.20 – 20.40 Palumbo Marco – The Missing Star
20.40 – 21.00 Liotta Antonella – Jane and other Stories
21.00 – 21.20 Grimaldi Sergio: The Crime of Crocicchia
21.20 – 21.40 Lanza Mariano/Mimma Stabile Sicilian Identity according to Ignazio Buttitta.
21.40 – 22.00 Viewing of the Works of the Artistic Extemporanea.
22.20 – 24.00 THE COLORS OF POPULAR TRADITION
Castronovo Pina – Di Piazza Patrizia – Ducato Concetta – Provenzano Tommaso

Saturday, June 21:
Music and Literary Presentations
The first day of the Festival coincides with the Summer Solstice and the European Music Day, an event celebrated in over 120 countries.
10:00 am – Students in Music: “Educational Performances” at the end of the school year. The music-focused institutes will present educational learning in music, with performances lasting 3-5 minutes per school.
10:00 am – WWF and Sea Sup: An important meeting on the sources of marine pollution and the presentation of Sup, a new sport and ecological discipline.
7:00 pm – Book Presentation: On the terrace overlooking the sea, books by Bonaccorsi, Nicotra and Piazza will be presented.
7:00 pm – I Mastri d’Ascia: An opportunity to explore the tradition, culture and technique of this ancient profession.

Sunday 22 June:
Science, Environment and Artistic Installations. Sunday will be dedicated to scientific study and discovery.
All day: An exhibition of installations reproducing marine animals will be set up, a true spectacle for the eyes.
10:00 am – CNR (National Research Center) WeMed: Presentation of the 2024 editions of “Society, economy and environment in the Mediterranean CRN” by a team of experts, including Francesco Abate, Giovanni Canitano, Salvatore Capasso, Stefano Carotenuto, Sandro Cruciani, Francesco di Filippo, Luca Forte, Anna Pia Maria Mirto, Marco Ricci and Antonio Rossi.
10:00 am – WWF and Sea Sup: The meeting on the sources of marine pollution and the Sup will be repeated, offering a second opportunity to participate in this crucial discussion.
7:00 pm onwards: Activities managed and moderated by the CNR, the details of which will be defined in the coming days.