International Convention at Vittoriale Explores Poets’ Dwellings and Italian Culture
On June 2nd, the XVII Convention of the International Association for the Study of Italian Language and Literature will be inaugurated at Vittoriale. AISLLI is the only cultural association in our country recognized by UNESCO and operates across five continents, promoting research and keeping active interest in our culture alive worldwide.
The president of AISLLI is Professor Carlo Ossola, who has recently been appointed—first among Italians—to teach Italian Literature at Collège de France, France’s most prestigious university institution.
The theme of the Convention, which will take place from June 2 to 5, is “Dwellings of Poetry.” No place seemed more suitable than Vittoriale to host the sessions, divided into 9 lectures and 70 presentations.
Discussions will focus on the homes of Petrarch, Machiavelli, Goldoni, Alfieri, Foscolo, Leopardi, Goethe, Tasso, Ungaretti, Salvatore di Giacomo and, naturally, the solemn residence of d’Annunzio. This house stands out above all because it is a sumptuous citadel, but mainly because Vittoriale bears strong signs of intentionality:
The Vate aimed to create a monument for visitors, a testament to his work and deeds. The participating scholars number around 200, mostly foreigners working across Europe and even in very remote countries, such as Professor Van Hoan, a Vietnamese scholar working in Hanoi; Professor John Scott from Australia; Professor Solonovic, from Russia, and so on, with researchers from Canada, the United States, Argentina, Mexico, and South Africa.
On June 3rd, the proceedings will pause at 11:00 am to inaugurate the new War Museum, set up in the Schifamondo area, which has been completely restored, with refinished lacquers, all woods, and glass panes.
This Museum, dedicated to the Poet Soldier, was arranged by Dr. Antonio Spada, who assigned an expert scholar to Vittoriale to catalog war objects, restoring and arranging them with generous passion.
Among the artifacts retrieved from warehouses are two bronzes by sculptor Renato Brozzi and a sculpture by Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, of notable interest. Additionally, the richly diverse series of flags and medals owned by d’Annunzio is finally on display with appropriate captions.
On the same June 3rd, during the inauguration ceremony of the War Museum, writer Gina Lagorio and the Garzanti heirs will donate to Vittoriale the manuscripts of letters d’Annunzio sent to Guido Beltrami and a painting depicting Emilio Treves, dated 1904.
On June 4th, the plenary session will be held in Brescia, in the form of a roundtable, with poets, writers, and philosophers such as Remo Bodei, Paola Mieli, and Paolo Fabbri, in the Vanvitelliano hall of Palazzo Loggia.
This session will be followed by a guided tour for all conference attendees of the Museo di Santa Giulia and a lunch at the picturesque Chiostro di San Cristo.
The organization of the Convention was supported by the Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali, the Ministero degli Esteri, the Provincia di Brescia, the Camera di Commercio IAA di Brescia, and the Community of Garda.
Due to its international significance, the Convention has received the high patronage of the President of the Republic, as well as sponsorship from the Ministries for Cultural Heritage and Activities, Public Education, and Scientific Research, the Province of Brescia, and the Municipality of Gardone Riviera.
For Vittoriale, organizing the Convention involved two years of logistical effort and a substantial financial commitment but is vital for the Foundation to engage with the global scientific community at the highest level.
