L’Aquila, September 21, 2025 – The mayor of L’Aquila, Pierluigi Biondi, accepted the “Eccellenze culturali d’Italia” award today in Giardini Naxos, in the province of Messina. The award was presented to the city as part of Naxoslegge—the Festival of Storytelling, Reading, and Books.

The awards ceremony took place during the festival’s opening—now in its 15th edition under the artistic direction of Fulvia Toscano, the Sicilian municipality’s councilor for culture—which, in addition to Giardini Naxos, also includes Messina, Catania, and Letojanni, with over 60 guests, including writers, scholars, artists, and cultural professionals.

“Receiving such a prestigious award on behalf of L’Aquila fills me with pride. This award also highlights the path of regeneration we have built over the years, positioning culture as the driving force behind the development and revitalization of the region—from our transition from a ‘city struck by an earthquake’ to a ‘city of the earthquake,’ all the way to our goal of becoming the 2026 Italian Capital of Culture. This recognition also speaks to the inland areas of the Central Apennines, for which L’Aquila serves as a point of reference: our ambition is to continue representing them, promoting their heritage, communities, and talents on a national and international scale.”

As part of the same initiative, awards were presented to, among others, Raffaello De Ruggieri, former mayor of Matera, the 2026 Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue, Salvatore Sutera, mayor of Gibellina, a city designated as the 2026 Italian Capital of Contemporary Art; Antonella Corrao, president of the Scientific Committee of the “Orestiadi di Gibellina” Foundation; Antonio Calbi, director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Paris; Giuseppe Carmeni, president of the Giardini Naxos tourist board; Filippo Grasso of the University of Messina; Paolo Della Sega, consultant for the 2028 Italian Capital of Culture; Giuseppe Culicchia, writer and director of the “Circolo dei Lettori” Foundation in Turin; Stenio Solinas, writer and journalist; Carlo Muratori, singer and musician; and Antonio Presti, entrepreneur and patron of the arts.

Mayor Biondi received the award from the mayor of Giardini Naxos, Giorgio Stracuzzi.