Italy is experiencing a vibrant surge in cultural memory, with new volumes and projects emerging across the country to celebrate heritage, resilience, and the power of community. From Naples to Sulmona, from the valleys of Piedmont to the skyscrapers of Turin, a tapestry of stories is being woven—each thread a testament to the enduring spirit of individuals and groups determined to keep the past alive while forging new connections for the future.
In Naples, anticipation is building for the presentation of a celebratory volume about the renowned Festival Ethnos. Scheduled for January 29, 2026, at 6:00 PM, the event will take place at the historic Palazzo Cavalcanti—Casa della Cultura del Comune di Napoli. According to the official announcement, the gathering will recount the artistic and cultural journey of the festival, structured around five central themes: Resistance, Diversity, Territory, Community, and Generations. These pillars have not only defined the festival’s evolution but have also shaped its profound impact on the cultural landscape of Naples and beyond. The evening will conclude with remarks from Ferdinando Tozzi, the mayor’s advisor for the music industry and audiovisual sector, underscoring the city’s commitment to fostering cultural innovation and dialogue.
Meanwhile, in Sulmona, a different but equally compelling story is unfolding. On January 31, 2026, at 9:30 AM, the Aula Magna of the Liceo Artistico di Sulmona will host the official presentation of the project "Tra terra d’Abruzzo e cieli australiani". This initiative, as reported by Paese Italia Press, is the culmination of two years of sociological research by the students of class 5G at the Liceo delle Scienze Umane. Their work involved conducting interviews with Abruzzo emigrants and their descendants, gathering authentic stories of departure, sacrifice, dreams, and achievement. The result is a volume that gives voice to memories often kept within families, creating a chorus of hybrid identities, nostalgia, resilience, and belonging.
Guided by principal Caterina Fantauzzi and coordinated by teachers Carolina Lettieri, Annalucia Cardinali, and Vanessa Romanelli (who curated the English edition), the students have crafted a narrative that resonates across generations and continents. The book notably features a moving diary from the son of an Abruzzo emigrant, offering an intimate and powerful testament to the emotional legacy carried across time. A rich photographic section, brimming with historical and family images, further brings to life the faces, places, and moments of migration. This project, described as a "living bridge between past and future," is intended especially for the descendants of emigrants—those who may no longer speak Italian but still feel the powerful pull of their roots.
Such ambitious work would not have been possible without a robust network of support. The Abruzzo Region and Regional Assessor Roberto Santangelo provided crucial funding, reaffirming the role of institutions as active custodians of collective memory. Dr. Mario Verrocchi’s financial backing is enabling the students’ study trip to Melbourne in March 2026, transforming the project into a formative experience of exceptional value. The community of Pratola in Hartford renewed its authentic bond with its homeland by warmly welcoming students and teachers, echoing the hospitality shown during the release of the previous volume, "Un Oceano di Carta." Tony Fini from Perth lent enthusiastic support and served as a living example of success combined with a love for one’s origins. The BCC of Pratola Peligna continued its tradition as a vigilant guardian of local history.
The volume is further enriched by contributions from journalist Goffredo Palmerini, lawyer Luisa Taglieri (who penned the introduction), and architect Riccardo Pagliaro, whose cover design captures the soul of the work. Fernando Cardinale played a pivotal role in reconnecting with compatriots in Australia, coordinating meetings in Melbourne, and weaving a network of relationships that will make the study trip a true intergenerational experience. The presentation will feature speeches by principal Fantauzzi, Assessor Santangelo, journalist Palmerini, journalist Silvia Mosca, councilor Taglierei, teachers Lettieri and Romanelli, and the students themselves, with Professor Cardinali moderating the event.
Further north, in the valleys of Piedmont, another remarkable project has come to fruition. The book "Le mani della montagna," recently published by Cuneo’s Primalpe, is the product of two years of historical research by students and literature teachers at the Scuola secondaria di primo grado di Valdieri (Istituto Comprensivo di Robilante). Their focus: the "Giusti della Valle Gesso," men and women who, after September 8, 1943, offered silent and courageous help to Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazi occupation. Utilizing previously unseen documents, direct testimonies, and interviews with the few surviving witnesses, the students and teachers reconstructed the stories of those who welcomed and supported Jewish refugees arriving via the Colle Ciriegia and Colle delle Finestre, finding shelter and assistance in Terme di Valdieri and San Giacomo di Entracque.
The research led to the identification of 37 "Giusti della Valle Gesso," some already known, others previously unrecognized. Their names are now commemorated on the Sentiero dei Giusti di Valdieri, inaugurated in June 2024, and in the Spazio del dialogo di San Giacomo di Entracque—places dedicated to memory and reflection. The project also includes a website created by students, offering access to research materials and directions to the memorial sites. The book itself features stories narrated in the students’ own voices, including the previously untold history of the Rozenblat family, a Jewish family that traversed the valley during those harrowing days. Contributions from university professors and historians, along with student artwork, round out the volume. As one passage poignantly puts it, "The hands of the mountain are invisible, yet they hold every path, every rock, every corner of this valley. Hands that cannot be seen, but that welcome and protect." The volume is available through the Primalpe website, major bookstores in Cuneo, and directly from the Valdieri school.
Not to be outdone, Turin hosted the presentation of the new photographic volume "PhotoAnsa 2025" on the evening of January 27, 2026, following earlier events in Rome and Milan. Held at the Intesa Sanpaolo skyscraper and streamed live, the event provided an opportunity to reflect on the most significant events of 2025. According to Torinoclick, the roundtable discussion was led by ANSA director Luigi Contu and featured notable figures such as Gian Maria Gros-Pietro, Michele Coppola, Walter Guadagnini, Elena Chiorino, Rosanna Purchia, Federico Ferri, Giovanni Ferrero, and Gianmarco Sala. The gathering concluded with remarks from ANSA CEO Stefano De Alessandri, highlighting the enduring importance of visual storytelling in capturing a nation’s collective experience.
Together, these initiatives reveal a country deeply engaged with its past, eager to honor acts of courage, migration, and artistic achievement, and determined to pass these stories on to future generations. Each project, whether rooted in local memory or spanning continents, stands as a vibrant reminder that history is not merely preserved in books and photographs—it lives on in the hearts and actions of those who choose to remember, celebrate, and share.