Risvegli Festival

On August 11 and 12, Mandatoriccio, a charming Calabrian village in the province of Cosenza, will host the second edition of Risvegli, a cultural festival that focuses on the deep connection between identity, memory, and territory. The initiative offers a wide-ranging and participatory program that intertwines art, theater, cuisine, and literature, with the aim of enhancing the tangible and intangible heritage of inland Calabria, combating depopulation, and promoting a new active citizenship.

The evening of Sunday, August 11, begins at 7:00 p.m. with the workshop “Il manicotto di Mandatoriccio” (The Mandatoriccio Manicotto), dedicated to the preparation of the famous traditional dessert that has obtained De.C.O. (Municipal Designation of Origin) recognition as a local gastronomic excellence. At 9:00 p.m., anthropologist and writer Mauro R. Minervino will host a meeting dedicated to George Gissing, a central figure in travel literature who traveled through Calabria in the late 19th century, offering insights into southern identity. The evening will conclude at 10:00 p.m. with a dialogue with the protagonists of “Mille e una luce” (A Thousand and One Lights), a historic episode of the 1978 Rai program that featured Mandatoriccio as part of a television narrative that brought to light local stories and experiences.

On Monday, August 12, the program resumes at 7:00 p.m. with the workshop “I maccheroni ai ferri” (Macaroni with irons), a culinary experience open to all ages to learn how to prepare traditional handmade Calabrian macaroni. The festival will close at 10:00 p.m. with the theatrical performance “Chì t'arrive nneglia” , written by Francesco Madeo and Rossella Pugliese and directed by Rossella Pugliese.

The festival, promoted by the Municipality of Mandatoriccio in collaboration with Cinefilos APS, Cooperativa Letteraria, and Deneb ETS, is organized with the support of the Calabria Region through PAC 2014/2020 resources - Action 6.8.3.