Gardone and Arcachon Celebrate 30 Years of D’Annunzio’s Cultural Bond
The French Vate, the Gardone Vate. Two different periods in D’Annunzio’s life, both important for his poetry. Gardone Riviera is preparing to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its twin town partnership with Arcachon, a town overlooking the French Atlantic. The French delegation, led by Mayor Pierre Lataillade, is expected in Gardone today, with a welcome dinner at the Grand Hotel. Then, throughout the weekend, entertainment activities and cultural exchange opportunities are scheduled.
D’Annunzio’s connection with Arcachon and Gardone
Gardone and Arcachon are united by having hosted an illustrious guest: Gabriele D’Annunzio. In 1910, the Vate, frustrated by numerous creditors making life impossible at the Capponcina, a legendary residence on the hills of Florence, chose voluntary exile. On the shores of the French ocean, D’Annunzio composed among other works the «Martyre de Saint Sébastien», a drama in oil language dedicated to Barres, set to music by Debussy and performed by Ida Rubinstein.
The poet returned to Italy on May 4, 1915, and after Italy’s entry into the war (advocated by D’Annunzio with a fiery interventionist campaign alongside the Entente), he moved to Venice, to the «red house» on the Grand Canal. Like his 1911 exile (with profoundly different motivations), the Gardone episode was also a kind of exile.
The return and key moments of D’Annunzio
In 1921, D’Annunzio, disappointed by the «mutilated» victory and disillusioned after the Fiume enterprise, sought refuge on Lake Garda to complete the Notturno, a «sacred» book of the Great War that the poet-soldier fought and achieved glory in. The fascist regime generously financed the Santa Fabbrica del Vittoriale, with the aim of marginalizing the poet from public life and confining him in a sort of golden prison.
Twin town celebration and cultural initiatives
Regarding the celebrations for the thirtieth «friendship» anniversary between Gardone and Arcachon, on Friday, May 12, two cultural visits are scheduled: to Vittoriale and to the S. Giulia Museum in Brescia. On Saturday, May 13, at 10:30 AM, in the city hall meeting room, there will be an official welcome ceremony with the exchange of plaques and books. The farewell of the French guests is scheduled for Sunday, May 14, at 5:30 PM, with a concert in the ballroom of Villa Alba. The Brescia Symphony Orchestra will perform pieces by Mozart.
A Gardone delegation will then be hosted in Arcachon from June 15 to 19. The respective visits will also allow for the development of new initiatives, such as youth exchanges during holidays, cultural exchanges between the hospitality schools in the two towns, and activities of mutual cultural and tourist promotion in collaboration with the Vittoriale degli Italiani.
