“A SHIP OF BOOKS FOR BARCELONA” sets sail on April 20th on the Grimaldi Lines Cruise Roma

.

Families, groups of friends, students, teachers: there will be over 500 passengers on the “Book Ship to Barcelona” who will embark on April 20th in Civitavecchia on the Grimaldi Lines Cruise Roma to head towards the capital of Catalonia to celebrate World Day of Book and Copyright established by UNESCO in a very particular way.

On April 23rd, in the Diada de Sant Jordi (the day of Saint George, patron saint of Catalonia) it is traditional for men to give a rose to women and receive a book in return: the whole city is filled with roses and books with dozens of events and meetings with writers and poets.

In this regard, Sergio Auricchio, creator of “A ship of books for Barcelona”, underlines: “Roses and books, symbols of love for people and for culture, find a perfect synthesis in the Barcelona Festival: you walk through the Ramblas among flowers and books in a relaxed atmosphere among smiling people who exchange hugs, roses and books; truly a beautiful experience that can be an antidote to the sadness that comes to us from the war fronts.”

The literary and cultural program of the 12th edition of “A ship of books for Barcelona” includes, both on the outward and return journey, meetings with writers, book presentations, shows, music, films. They will be on board the ship: Gabriella Genisi, Giampaolo Simi, Roberto Riccardi, Carola Carulli, Anna Maria Gehnyei, Peppe Millanta, Francesca Andronico, Roberto Gassi, Evelina Maffey, Ida Sassi, Elvira Siringo, Stefano Zampieri, Patrizia Cirulli, singer-songwriter who set the music and interpreted poems by Garcia Lorca, Frida Kahlo, Quasimodo, D’Annunzio, Alda Merini, Eduardo De Filippo, who will duet with the actor Gino Manfredi who will read some songs by these great poets, the street artist Valentina De Rosa and Eugenio Bennato with his band. The Neapolitan singer-songwriter – among other things winner of the Lunezia Prize for the musical-literary value of the song “Grande Sud” – was invited by the Italian Cultural Institute of Barcelona for Waiting for San Jordi, for a great concert to be held in collaboration with the monthly Leggere:tutti and Grimaldi Lines in the Catalan city on Monday 22 April, the eve of the Feast of Saint George, books and roses.

Guest of honor will be the Spanish writer Juan Gómez Bárcena, winner of the 2022 Ciutat de Barcelona Prize with the novel The rest is airpublished in Italy by Gran Vía Edizioni.

Also on board are meetings on the importance of reading aloud with a representative of the LaAV (Reading Alta Voce) club of Naples coordinated by Anna D’Angelo.

On April 23, in addition to walking around the Ramblas invaded by roses and books, anyone who wants will be able to participate in the meeting with the Italian community at the Italian Cultural Institute in Barcelona, ​​welcomed by the director Maria Di Giorgio.

And also guided tours, a walk through literary and gastronomic Barcelona and the “Take a photo in Barcelona” photography competition.

The 2024 edition of “A ship of books for Barcelona” looks to Europe: thanks to the Erasmus+ Desibook project, students from Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, Spain and Italy will be on board, accompanied by their teachers. On the ship, various themes will be explored in depth: how culture and books unite people, the importance of intercultural dialogue, the contribution of the Erasmus+ program to the growth of a European awareness among young people.

“A ship of books for Barcelona” is a literary journey organized by Agra Editrice in collaboration with the monthly “Leggere:tutti” and Grimaldi Lines Tour Operator and with the patronage of the Italian Cultural Institute of Barcelona and the ANP (National Association school leaders).