BCsicilia’s initiative “30 books in 30 days” 2024 edition ends in Agrigento, which next year will be the “Italian capital of culture”, which saw the presentation, around Sicily, from 23 March until the day before on 23 April, the date that UNESCO has dedicated to World Book Day, 30 volumes that summarize various editorial experiences with particular attention to our cultural and environmental heritage. The event took place in collaboration with the Don Lorenzo Milani Publishing House.
The last book that closes this year’s review is dedicated to ancient Akragas. Organized by the local branch of BCsicilia, the book “Tell me about Agrigento” by Elio Di Bella, President of the BCsicilia citizen group, will be held on Monday 22 April 2024 at 5.30 pm at the Circolo Empedocleo in Piazza San Giuseppe. After the greetings of Giuseppe Adamo, President of the Circolo Culturale Empedocleo, speeches by Benedetto Comparetto, Salvatore Indelicato, Giuseppina Mendola and Alberto Todaro are expected. The Author will be present. Conclusions by Alfonso Lo Cascio, Regional President of BCsicilia.
The book. “Tell me about Agrigento” is an anthology of texts, collected over several years by Elio Di Bella, a historian from Agrigento. The book is not one of the many guides to the Sicilian city but rather portrays the city of temples through the voices of those who lived there, even in distant centuries. In fact, we read a historical account by Empedocles, who describes his ancient Akragas and introduces lifestyle issues and urban problems that have persisted until modern times and the pages of a late nineteenth-century Mayor who examines the conditions of Girgenti (ancient name of the city ) in the Bourbon era, followed by other narrators from Agrigento who contribute with detailed stories of the past, illustrating the evolution of Agrigento before and after the annexation to the Kingdom of Italy, highlighting the urban and social transformations.
Finally, testimonies from the 20th century enrich the mosaic of narratives, offering a panoramic view of city life through various historical periods and cultural contexts. The author dedicates particular attention to the conditions of the various neighborhoods of Agrigento, using the memories of simple citizens and the journalistic investigations of past decades.
The collection of stories and testimonies presented in the volume is not only a tribute to the historical and cultural richness of Agrigento, but also stands as a fundamental catalyst for a broader reflection on the conservation of urban memory and the collective identity of its inhabitants. Through the dialogue between past and present, the text proposes a complex vision of how a community can interact with its history, preserving its roots while navigating the inevitable transformations of time and the young people of Agrigento will be able to draw from the experiences and narratives of their ancestors not only to understand their own heritage, but also to reflect on how they want to shape the future of the city.
The author. Elio Di Bella is a retired professor of history and philosophy. He graduated in the same subjects from the University of Letters and Philosophy of Catania, with top marks and with a thesis on Pirandello’s historical novel “The Old and the Young”, which won the Mursia prize in 1986. He has a baccalaureate in theology with a pedagogical focus, with top marks. He attended high school when he was already writing for the weekly magazine L’Amico del Popolo.
Reporter for the Giornale di Sicilia since 1984 and currently also for the online newspaper Balarm. He holds the position of press officer of the Empedocleo cultural club in Agrigento. He has created journalistic reports and history columns for local TV. His publications have been numerous in local and regional magazines, newspapers and online newspapers. Journalism and knowledge of local history are his passion.
His numerous publications in magazines, newspapers and online newspapers. His books, full of unpublished documents, are the result of research in archives and libraries. He has won several awards for the originality of his publications. Regarding the most recent recognitions, we remember his book “Agrigento yesterday and today. A story to be rewritten” which obtained the “Ignazio Buttitta 2023” award and the “Scala dei Turchi” award. Dina Russiello” 2023. The Mayor of Agrigento, Calogero Firetto, has given him the role of contact person for the promotion of the processes of rediscovery and valorization of the Agrigento identity. He is the citizen manager of BCsicilia, provincial manager for the culture sector of AICS, regional manager for culture of the SAGI journalists’ union (Autonomous Italian Journalists’ Union), vice-president of the Epea association, Very active on social media, he has been promoting cultural meetings for many years of various kinds. He takes care of the local history site and YouTube channel agrigentoierieoggi.
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