CATANZARO – The cultural association “Calabria prima Italia” of Badolato has also awarded the homonymous “Calabria prima Italia” prize for 2024 in the context of the second “Festa del nome Italia” which will be held tomorrow at the summer solstice. As with the previous edition, held in Davoli Marina, the winners are people who have demonstrated (episodically or throughout their professional and socio-cultural life) particular interest in the themes of the “first Italy” period, i.e. the period preceding the Roman conquest of Calabria towards the end of the third century BC, i.e. the historical phase that opens with King Italo (around 1500 BC) and then continues with the long and exhilarating civilization of Magna Graecia.
The “magnificent seven” awarded in 2024 are (in alphabetical order): Pierfranco Bruni from San Lorenzo in Vallo (CS), Giulio De Loiro from Satriano (CZ), Antonio Perri from Lamezia Terme (CZ), Editore Meligrana from Tropea ( VV), the publisher Florindo Rubbettino of Soveria Mannelli (CZ), Vincenzo Serrao of Badolato (CZ) and Vincenzo Viterbo of Lamezia Terme. Everyone, in one way or another, is interested in the study and/or diffusion of the history and concept of “Calabria before Italy”.
The value of the Award highlights the merit of those who are committed to ensuring that a historical period that is still almost totally ignored by the mass media and school books stands out and is better considered, i.e. the founding period of Italy as a Nation, since King Italo (3500 years ago) laid the foundations of “ethical democracy” with his laws, with the syssitia (common meals) and with his very far-sighted and still current political vision so much so as to have aroused interest and the praise of ancient philosophers and historians, as well as imitation among all the peoples of the Mediterranean.
Pierfranco Bruni (born 1955) is Director Archaeologist and has a very long professional curriculum also carried out at international levels with prestigious publications; among many other things he is President of the special Commission of the Ministry of Culture for the annual designation of the “City of the Book”.
