Palermo Named Italian Capital of Culture 2018

After a long evaluation of ten competitive candidates, a jury appointed by the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism voted Palermo, the capital of Sicily, as the Italian Capital of Culture 2018. This coveted title, which spans the duration of one year, serves to promote tourism in the city through various economic benefits – including an award of €1 million.

According to Professor Stefano Baia Curioni, who heads the decision committee, all of the candidates for this year’s title efficiently combine culture, participation, and the creation of social capital. But Palermo stood out from the rest through its monuments as well as its balance of both historical and modern traditions. The city’s Santa Rosalia festival in mid-August and historic Teatro Massimo with operatic features such as Verdi’s Nabucco and Puccini’s Turandot are just two examples of ways in which Palermo’s rich history manifests itself every year.

Additionally, Palermo is set to host two new and prominent events in 2018: first, “Manifesta 12,” which features contemporary art on the theme of rethinking the city. Second, Palermo seeks to recognize the importance of migration in the Mediterranean through the “Festival of Migrant Literature.” The event will raise awareness about migrant stories and aims to remind attendees of the vitality of the current refugee crisis in Europe.

-Bailey Tulloch