Premio Letterario Costa Smeralda

The big event opening the summer under the sign of literature

The Sardinian coastline as desired by the Aga Khan and culture have always been closely linked ever since the birth of this special place. It is in the wake of an almost 60-year long history and experience that, in 2018, Consorzio Costa Smeralda conceived and instituted a Literary Prize to enhance and promote culture - and literature, in particular - from the onset through the works, projects and testimonies of authors, scholars and illustrious figures associated with this land and beyond.

The theme of the first two editions was the sea. From 2022, the thematic horizon was broadened without losing its link with water and the Mediterranean.

Premio Letterario Costa Smeralda

Year by year, the Prize has established itself as one of the major cultural events on the national scene, enhancing its calling to showcase the most original talents in contemporary culture, and to discuss major topical issues. The finalist trios of the Prize in the two award categories, Fiction and Non-Fiction, were presented during the press conference last March, selected by an expert jury comprising Lina Bolzoni, Marcello Fois, Elena Loewenthal and Chiara Valerio, headed by Stefano Salis, the Prize’s Art Director. The finalists for the 2024 edition - the overall winner will be announced on Saturday, 4 May on the stage of the Conference Centre in Porto Cervo - are for Fiction: Ginevra Lamberti with Il pozzo vale più del tempo (Marsilio), Eugenio Murrali with his debut novel Marguerite è stata qui (Neri Pozza) and Evelina Santangelo with Il sentimento del mare (Einaudi). The Non-fiction triplet, instead, includes: Vera Gheno with Parole d’altro genere (Rizzoli), Maurizio Ferraris with Imparare a vivere (Editori Laterza) and Vincenzo Trione with Prologo celeste. Nell’atelier di Anselm Kiefer (Einaudi).

Premio Letterario Costa Smeralda

“By highlighting young talents and with the debate on major global issues, such as those relating to climate change and safeguarding natural resources, this edition confirms the prestige of a leading cultural event, which we are very proud to organise and host. We welcome this new important edition of the Costa Smeralda Prize, which also this year opens the tourist season in the name of culture and its protagonists on the Costa Smeralda®,” says Mario Ferraro, Vice President of Consorzio Costa Smeralda and CEO of Smeralda Holding.