Renzo Persico tells us about the famous Costa Smeralda Prize

Our interview with the president of the Costa Smeralda Consortium

Renzo Persico, President of Consorzio Costa Smeralda, strongly believes in a destination that has made culture and environmental sustainability two central targets to underscore the island’s historical background and secure its future.

“Environment-oriented culture is part of culture in a broad sense. Sardinia must be protected and defended. We are aware that the island is a site of excellence. Our dedication to the environment is rewarded by the area that surrounds us, which must be protected. We are only temporary users of an asset we must hand down to our heirs,” said Persico on the sidelines of the presentation of the Costa Smeralda Prize, the third edition of the literary prize that has rapidly established itself among the major cultural events on the national literary scene. This year’s edition confirms the extensive space given to the most original talents of contemporary culture, and to discussions on major topical issues. The prize-giving ceremony will take place on Saturday, 4 May at 5.00 pm at the Conference Centre in Porto Cervo.

Renzo Persico

“We open the season with the Costa Smeralda Literary Prize, now in its third edition. It has already reached an important milestone, that of being a landmark for great Italian excellence,” says Renzo Persico. “We contribute towards national culture, but we are also a place where young authors and talents, or famous authors can meet and compare notes. In the Italian scene, Sardinia touches remarkable standards through culture. The island is invaded by culture, both archaeological and literary, but the mixed and composite nature of this convergence makes us a genuine myth, where the ancient part of Sardinia marries the modern one.” A considerable commitment in the name of culture, the Costa Smeralda Prize has also brought together literature and the environment by creating the Mediterranean Culture Prize, which is awarded to a leading figure for enhancing the cultures of our sea and of the peoples who inhabit it. This year the award will go to Mariasole Bianco, scientist and popularizer, an expert in marine conservation, the topic of her book “Pianeta Oceano” (Rizzoli).

Premio Letterario Costa Smeralda

“After the last two top-notch editions of the Costa Smeralda Literary Prize, which involved renowned international authors, such as the Nobel Prize for Literature, Orhan Pamuk, and the famous French author Emmanuel Carrère, along with numerous protagonists of Italian culture, our Consortium kicks off the 2024 schedule with renewed enthusiasm. The Prize, which is widely acknowledged for its excellence in the national cultural scene, has been conceived to contribute towards great Italian culture. It is also a space for meeting and dialogue between young talents and renowned artists.”