ALESSANDRIA – Historians and singers, writers and re-enactors, poets, musicians will meet at Alessandria Friday 5th and Saturday 6th July in Piazza Santa Maria di Castello, on the occasion of the fourth edition of the “International Templar Festival” to tell, over the course of three events, the history, mystery and legend of the famous friar-knights of the Middle Ages, still present in our collective imagination. Entry is free, but booking is recommended on the eventbrite website.
The direction entrusted to Simonetta Cerrinihistorian and essayist, and Gian Piero Alloisio, playwright and singer-songwriter, has prepared a program that includes an afternoon meeting and show conferences in the evening. In case of bad weather, the events will take place in the tensile structure set up at Palazzo Cuttica (in via Parma 1), where it is however foreseen the meeting with the authors on Saturday 6 July at 4.15pm. The “Il Libraccio” bookshop of Alessandria will be present at the Festival with a wide choice of books dedicated to the topics covered.
The Festival has obtained the patronage of the University of Eastern Piedmont and is produced by ATID with the support of the City of Alessandria and the Cassa di Risparmio di Alessandria Foundation, the collaboration of ASM Costruire Insieme and Alexala, and is also part of the Templars Route European Federation (TREF); collaborate with the Neighborhood House of Alessandria (Community of San Benedetto al Porto), the Diocese of Alessandria, the Libraccio, the Chiostro Hostel & Hotel, the Hotel Alli Due Buoi Rossi (special rates for Festival spectators), Palazzo del Monferrato, the Castle of Piovera. More information on the Facebook and Instagram accounts or by email [email protected]
Saturday 6 July – 4.15pm – Civic Museum – Palazzo Cuttica
MEETING WITH THE SPEAKERS
– presentation of Templars Route European Federation with Valérie Alanièce, François Gilet, Simonetta Cerrini;
– presentation of the books by Maria Giuseppina Muzzarelli, A capocovered. Stories of women and veils (il Mulino 2016) and, with L. Molà and G. Riello, All the pearls of the world. Stories of travel, exchanges and magnificent ornaments, (il Mulino 2023). The author talks with Simonetta Cerrini; copies will be signed;
– remote connection with Dacia Maraini, who will talk about her recent book Vita mia (Rizzoli 2023).
Friday 5th and Saturday 6th July – at 9pm – Piazza Santa Maria di Castello
CONFERENCE-SHOW “THE WOMEN OF THE TEMPLE”
In Alexandria the worlds of historians and artists will come together in two evening shows, on Friday “The sorores of the Temple” and on Saturday “Mary and the Templars” to tell how the most fascinating knight friars of the Middle Ages met the faces of women. Among the speakers: Simonetta Cerrini docteure de la Sorbonne-Paris-IV, the medievalist Maria Giuseppina Muzzarelli (Alma Mater professor, former full professor of Medieval History at the University of Bologna, scholar of the history of culture, fashion, the role of women in the Middle Ages, in the scientific committee of Passato e Presente RAI 3); Don Stefano Tessaglia, professor at the University of Eastern Piedmont and scholar of the relationship between religion and society, will take us to discover a treasure from Alessandria; from France, Templar commandery of Avalleur, will arrive Valérie Alanièce, scholar of the sorores Temples in Champagne, founder and vice-secretary of the Templars Route European Federation, and François Gilet, investigator of the origins of the Templars; furthermore, the writer, poet and playwright Dacia Maraini, winner of the Super Campiello Prize and the Strega Prize, candidate for the Nobel Prize for Literature, will connect remotely; Video interventions are planned by Helen Nicholson, emerita of Cardiff University, one of the greatest scholars of the Templars, and by the singer-songwriter Francesco Guccini.
The evenings’ script will include interventions by speakers and songs by authors, readings, theatrical pieces and performances. Among the artists: Gian Piero Alloisiothe Argentine musician and singer Juan Carlos “Flaco” Biondini (Francesco Guccini’s historical guitarist), the singer and pianist from Alessandria Elizabeth Gagliardi, the saxophonist and novelist Antonio Marangolo (arranger of Paolo Conte and musician of Francesco Guccini); the Alexandrian choir Cor’Allevi directed by Rita Maria Ferraris; the historical re-enactors of the Mansio Templi Parmensis 1275 company who will represent moments in the life of the Templars; the association of re-enactors will also be present Guardians of the Roads
