Sea, Sun and Culture from June 18th in Positano: exhibition dedicated to Elsa Morante, 40 years after her death

Mare, Sole e Cultura is underway, the historic literary review that returns to Positano from 18 June to 10 July 2025 and which, on the occasion of the celebrations for the fortieth anniversary of the death of Elsa Morante, is dedicating its XXXIII edition to The Secret of Art . If it is true, in fact, as the author of L'isola di Arturo writes, "perhaps all invention is remembering", the meetings in Positano, drawing on the words of the authors who will enliven the evenings of the festival, will offer the opportunity to "remember how the work was seen in a dream state", because here lies the secret of art.

The event is organized by the Mare, Sole e Cultura Cultural Association in collaboration with Mondadori , the Municipality of Positano , the Chamber of Commerce of Salerno and the Carisal Foundation and boasts the moral patronage of the Ministry of Tourism , the Ministry of Culture , the Campania Tourism Agency and the Regional School Office for Campania of the MIM .

Cutting the ribbon of the XXXIII edition will be the Attorney General of Naples, Nicola Gratteri , author with Antonio Nicaso of Una cosa sola (Mondadori) who on Wednesday 18 June (9 pm – Sala “Andrea Milano” of the Municipality of Positano) will investigate the dark heart of organised crime, revealing its hidden ties with the financial markets and politics and demonstrating how they have now become, in fact, «one thing only». Greetings from the Mayor of Positano, Giuseppe Guida . With the participation of Francesca Nanni , Attorney General at the Court of Appeal of Milan, and Igor Pagani , editorial director of Non-fiction, Oscar Mondadori and Classics. “ Culture has always been a fundamental element for the collective growth of a community, and in these thirty-three years “Mare, Sole e Cultura” has contributed to the growth of the Positano community, becoming part of that historical and cultural heritage that makes Positano a unique place, open to meeting and discussion – says Guida -. I am sure that the guest authors of this edition will offer interesting food for thought and new opportunities for dialogue, confirming the cultural and intercultural vocation that has always animated Positano, known by most not only for its natural and architectural beauty, but also for the initiatives that make it a place of art and culture .”.

Thursday 19 June (9 pm – Piazza Flavio Gioia) Giulio Napolitano , author of Il mondo sulle spalle. Una storia familiare e politica (Mondadori), together with Barbara Palombelli and Francesco Rutelli will outline the portrait of his father Giorgio, “of a lucid and measured man and statesman, but also of a united family, founded on a partnership between a couple that is stronger than any difference in character”.

During the evening, the award ceremony of the International Civil Journalism Award will be held. The award, chaired by Arturo Martorelli and conferred by the Italian Institute for Philosophical Studies , is assigned to journalists and figures who have distinguished themselves for their commitment to the protection of civil rights, investigations and courageous support of social values.

“ Supporting Mare, Sole e Cultura means believing in the power of culture as a driver of sustainable and inclusive development for our territory. – says Andrea Prete, President of Unioncamere and the Chamber of Commerce of Salerno – This festival is much more than an event: it is a laboratory of ideas, a driving force for the local economy and a concrete opportunity to strengthen the link between identity, tourism and business. The Chamber of Commerce of Salerno is proud to accompany this initiative also in this XXXIII edition, aware that investing in culture means building the future of our community ”.

Wednesday 25 June (9 pm – Piazza Flavio Gioia) Paola Calvetti , author of Il segreto del cigno (Mondadori) will retrace the life of the Princess of Wales, digging beneath the surface of public gestures, where fairy tales meet strategy, and romance coexists with the iron discipline of a future queen. With the participation of Enrica Bonaccorti .

Thursday 3 July (9 pm – Piazza Flavio Gioia) the meeting will be brought to life by Mario Calabresi , author of Il tempo del bosco (Mondadori). A precious testimony, which makes us reflect on how much we still need to recover attention, the sense of an instant in which waiting and boredom exist, and to return to putting important things at the center of our days and not urgent ones. With the participation of Oreste Lo Pomo , Director of TG3 Campania.

The review continues on Friday 4 July (9 pm – Piazza Flavio Gioia) with Albano Carrisi , known to all as Al Bano, author of Il sole dentro (Mondadori), a memoir divided into four parts, as many as the lives he feels he has lived. With the participation of Gabriella Ungarelli .

Who would want the death of a religious man who had always preached peace and coexistence between peoples and religions? Tuesday 8 July (9 pm – Piazza Flavio Gioia) Enzo Amendola , author of The Imam Must Die (Mondadori) and Gennaro Sangiuliano , author of Trump (Mondadori), drawing on past history and directing their gaze to the present, will stage a great international intrigue. With the participation of Raffaella R. Ferré , journalist of “Il Mattino”.

A city that is always outside the box, Naples is the only place in the world that manages to be everything and the opposite of everything. And it is with a meeting dedicated to the voices of the city of Partenope that the XXXIII edition of the festival closes. Thursday 10 July (9 pm - Piazza Flavio Gioia) Amedeo Colella author of Napoli due volte al dì (Mondadori) and Chiara Gily author of Aspettami al caffè Napoli (Mondadori) will demonstrate how second chances arrive just before giving up everything, and how the exceptionality of Naples and Neapolitans represents an involuntary but healthy administration of well-being for everyone.

The meetings are open to the public. Also this year, thanks to the collaboration with Travelmar , those who want to participate in the event will be able to take advantage of a return trip from Salerno to Positano and from Positano to Salerno. The ferry is by reservation only, subject to availability, and will depart from Piazza della Concordia at 17:10 and will depart from Positano at 23:00 and will not make intermediate stops.