The first Italian Poetry Festival in Madrid, promoted by the Italian Cultural Institute of Madrid, under the artistic direction of Davide Rondoni, ended with a resounding success. During the five-day Festival, over 2,000 people attended the meetings, readings, concerts, and cultural events that enlivened the Institute’s halls, confirming the Madrid public’s strong interest in contemporary Italian poetry.
The most popular events included the cross-readings between Italian and Spanish authors, the meetings dedicated to Federico García Lorca and Saint Francis of Assisi, the concert-performance “The Canticle of the Creatures” with the Orchestra di Musica Popolare Italiana conducted by Ambrogio Sparagna, and the screening of the documentary dedicated to Giuseppe Ungaretti in the presence of director Mario Vitale.
Italian and Spanish poets, musicians, intellectuals, and artists created a program that combined poetry language, music, and audiovisual arts. Particularly significant were the events dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi, marking the eighth centenary of his death.
Considering the audience’s enthusiastic participation, the Italian Cultural Institute in Madrid is already looking forward to a second Festival, scheduled for May 2027.
