From Procida to Bergamo and BresciaThe capitals of culture unite North and South

perhaps the first time that a tree full of Procidan lemons has entered the court theater of the Royal Palace of Naples. Nature and history together to greet the last day of Procida Capital of Culture 2022. The Bourbon Palace is tinged with pink and also the colonnade of Piazza del Plebiscito evocatively tinged with the color of the sunsets of the island of Arturo. The passing of the baton between Procida and Bergamo and Brescia which are capitals of culture 2023 took place with a parterre of institutional offices from the mayor of Procida Dino Ambrosino to the minister of culture Gennaro Sangiuliano. To welcome them in the Bourbon courtyard a gigantic Thinker by Rodin played by Amanda Parer.

Sangiuliano: Spaventa unites the South with Bergamo and the North

it was a choice – says Sangiuliano referring to the two Lombard cities – made by decree and linked to a very significant historical fact. In fact, we are talking about the two provinces that were most affected by the first wave of the pandemic. They are important cities from an entrepreneurial point of view but which also have excellence from a cultural and artistic point of view. This means emphasizing the rebirth that occurs through culture.
This time he does not directly quote his favorite Benedetto Croce but his uncle Silvio Spaventa, exponent of Neapolitan Hegelianism, elected senator in Bergamo and the reference serves as a trait d’union between North and South. And then: Alcide De Gasperi in the immediate post-war period decided an extraordinary allocation to have the Scala in Milan rebuilt. At the time many people didn’t have homes, many buildings had been bombed and there were criticisms of De Gasperi’s choice to rebuild the Scala while there were many who lived in barracks. De Gasperi replied that the country needed to be reborn, and that we had to start with the symbols of culture. Reviving the provinces of Bergamo and Brescia with respect to the tragic wake of losses that have occurred therefore means starting again from culture, which can be a tool for resilience and a restart.
On the sidelines of the ceremony, the head of the Cabinet of the Ministry of Culture Francesco Gilioli met his counterpart from the Municipality of Naples, Maria Grazia Falciatore, to define new steps and agreements relating to the project for the Albergo dei Povera. And Minister Sangiuliano himself met with Governor De Luca to take stock of the cultural projects that concern Campania.

The numbers

Three hundred days of events, a media impact of 3.4 billion contacts, 600,000 tourists landed on Arturo’s island in 2022 alone (record attendance, higher than the estimates which for 2022 stopped at 500,000). These are some of the numbers of Procida Capitale della Cultura 2022 pitted by the director Agostino Riitano who narrates the success of his dossier starting from what he has been the keyword or co-creation. Procida’s journey translated into 44 cultural projects, 34 of which originals spread over 300 days of programming divided into workshops open to the public, happenings, exhibitions, for a total of 150 events with the participation of over 350 artists from 45 different countries of the World. Investments for 18 million. The media attention that the event garnered was also significant, quantified in the overall achievement of 3.4 billion contacts for an estimated economic impact of 33 million euros. The event was covered by the most prestigious international publications, from the New York Times to National Geographic, with guaranteed coverage in over 25 countries around the world. The economic implications for Riitano are also notable. As a consequence of the island’s proclamation as Italian Capital of Culture alone, the average turnover of a significant sample of Procidan companies rose from 277 thousand euros in 2019 to 386 thousand euros in 2021 with an increase of 90 thousand euros, i.e. a +32 .5% since 2019, the pre-pandemic year. The average turnover of companies that deal with artistic and entertainment activities between 2021 and 2019 grew by 45%, that of transport companies by 39%.

Manfredi: Experience that we will treasure

Very positive balance with culture at the center. I am not speaking only of the island of Procida – said Gaetano Manfredi in his capacity as mayor of the Metropolitan City – but for the entire Phlegrean area which sees cultural events, the enhancement of creativity and talent as one of its fundamental assets of this great rebirth and this great attraction. A significant experience that we will treasure to improve the offer and competitiveness of our territories. If millions of tourists have arrived in Naples this year also thanks to the contribution that Procida has given.