Donne, parole e musica in festa - Domenica 8 marzo la XII edizione

On the occasion of the "International Women's Day," with the sponsorship and support of the Municipality of Castellana-Grotte, the social promotion association ViviCastellanaGrotte will hold the twelfth edition of "Women - Words and Music in Celebration" on the evening of Sunday, March 8, 2026.

Since 2015, the Castellana March 8 coincides with a small, great event: a beautiful experience for the participants, a tribute to the female contribution to the arts, a moment of public presence for women who are often not accustomed to the spotlight, but no less deserving of recognition. Over the years, in a climax of emotions, more than two hundred women from Castellana have lent their voices to lesser-known authors from the past. The event, as per tradition, will take place in the Ceremony Hall of the Town Hall, a symbolic choice aimed at highlighting, in the most representative place for the community, the many expressions of femininity in Castellana.

After speeches by the Mayor of Castellana-Grotte Domi Ciliberti, the relevant councilor Davide Sportelli, the head of sector II Anita Paolillo, and the president of the APS ViviCastellanaGrotte Daniela Lovece, sixteen women from Castellana, differing in age, profession, environment, and education, will give voice to authors little known to the general public. Many themes will be discussed: life, youth, nature, love, motherhood, violence, abandonment, intolerance, spirituality, the unquenchable yearning for freedom, and the female archetype to which we return.

Here are the readers for the twelfth edition: Viviana D’Ambruoso, Houriya Fathallah, Sofia Elefante, Arianna Bovio, Sofia Chkhikoodze, Mara Barbarossa, Madia Alfarano, Maria Paola Silvestri, Amanda Cristina Nochelli, Deanira Lippolis, Maria Muollo, Stefania Lavarra, Marica Pace, Marirosa Cisternino, Terry Molinari, Marisa Clori.

Introducing the pieces will be an exceptional "valet," Salvatore Fistetto, an adopted Castellana native, a public employee, a martial arts teacher, and a man of extraordinary sensitivity.

Musical interludes will be provided by Anna Franco, known as Nina, a very young singer from Bari.

To learn more

Why March 8 at the Town Hall?
In our country, as well as across the sea, women are seeing their achievements waver. A glass ceiling limits their political, professional, and academic careers. Motherhood can equate to job loss, and female political representation needs to be guaranteed by a gender quota.
Even today, there are those who believe that a woman should earn less than a man or that she should primarily be judged on her appearance.
The phenomenon of so-called pinkwashing, which places women's issues at the center of paradoxical initiatives of questionable effectiveness and certainly poor taste, is no less detrimental.
Not to mention the issue of gender-based violence, which ViviCastellanaGrotte has dedicated moments of reflection to on an annual basis since 2013, focusing on the school population of Castellana.

An evening at the Town Hall will not change the state of things, but a tribute to the women who live and work in our community is a necessary act.

The Protagonists and the Pieces

Every year, selecting the participants is a challenging task: many women from Castellana honor their gender and their city. The goal is always to provide a truly representative sample of our society, made up of doctors and lawyers but also agricultural laborers, unemployed individuals, and mothers, psychologists, and housewives, factory workers, and athletes.
Additionally, among the protagonists, there are many “acquired Castellanese,” enriching presences in the City of the Caves, ready to integrate and contribute to the social, cultural, and economic progress of the city, while still being mindful of their origins.

As for the pieces, the effort will continue to shine a light on lesser-known voices, both close and distant, in time and space. As with all editions, the artistic sensitivity of Marisa Clori has been helpful in the organizational phases of the event.

For information: email info@vivicastellanagrotte.it
Web: www.vivicastellanagrotte.it...