Capital of Culture 2028, ten finalist cities selected

The Jury for the selection of the city 'Italian Capital of Culture' 2028 has chosen the ten finalist projects that will compete for the coveted title. They are Anagni (Fr) with the project 'Hernica Saxa. Where history binds, culture unites'; Ancona with 'Ancona. This now'; Catania with the project 'Catania continues'; Colle di Val d'Elsa (Si) with 'Colle28. For everyone, everywhere'; Forlì with 'The paths of beauty'; Gravina in Puglia (Ba) with 'Roots to the future'; Massa with 'The Moon, the Stone. Dove Tirreno e Apuane incontrano la storia'; Mirabella Eclano (Av) with 'L'Appia dei popoli'; Sarzana (Sp) with 'L'impavida. Sarzana crocevia del futuro' and Tarquinia (Vt) with the project 'Culture is flight'. The finalists - the Ministry of Culture reports in a note - will be called for the public hearings, to be held next Thursday 26 and Friday 27 February, in the Sala Spadolini at the Ministry of Culture headquarters. Each candidate will thus have the opportunity to illustrate their project in detail and answer questions from the jurors. For each dossier, the hearings will last a maximum of 60 minutes, 30 of which will be for the presentation of the project and 30 for a question session by the Jury. The publicity of these hearings, provided for in the call for entries, will be ensured through live streaming on the YouTube channel of the Ministry of Culture.

Among the first to be delighted with the entry in the top ten was the Mayor of Massa Francesco Persiani "The dream continues, the moon is a little closer," commented the first citizen, expressing great satisfaction for a recognition that confirms the solidity and vision of the candidacy dossier presented by the city.

For theMayor of Ancona Daniele Silvetti 'It is a great satisfaction to see the collective work that has given the city a voice rewarded. This candidacy is the outcome of a strategy that focuses on culture as a resource to regenerate spaces, create employment and strengthen international ties. It is a first important achievement and an encouragement to continue with ambition and responsibility. Culture is an instrument of peace and democracy, as President Mattarella emphasised in L'Aquila, and Ancona is clear in its role as a city open to the Mediterranean with the Ciriaco d'Ancona Prize for intercultural dialogue'. Also celebrating Ancona's entry among the finalists was Oscar-winner Dante Ferretti "Ancona has in its sea, its history and its light a unique creative energy that today can speak to Italy and the world".