PRESS RELEASE. La LEGGEREzza del Male. Navigating Through Emotions
International Festival on Emotional Education
3rd Edition – Caresses and Scars – Samatzai, September–November 2025
In Samatzai, the third edition of the Literary Festival La LEGGEREzza del Male is about to begin. In 2025 it carries the subtitle Caresses and Scars, a guiding thread that weaves together reflection, emotion, and awareness.
The Festival, promoted by the Municipality of Samatzai in collaboration with the associations Città della Terra Cruda and Associazione Progresso Donna, with the support of the Autonomous Region of Sardinia and numerous local institutions, schools, and associations, will take place between September and November 2025 in Samatzai (SU), in several symbolic locations of the area: squares, libraries, houses of culture, and community spaces.
Three weekends to mark in your calendar:
- 26–27 September 2025
- 17–20 October 2025
- 22–25 November 2025
- 16–17 October and 10–13 November 2025 (events for schools)
A journey alternating book presentations, literary readings, performances, workshops for children, philosophical dialogues, literary trekking, and musical moments, with prominent guests from the literary, philosophical, and educational worlds.
“We are proud to announce the start of the Literary Festival La LEGGEREzza del Male: Navigating Through Emotions,” says Mayor Enrico Cocco, “a cultural initiative that places at the center of public reflection the value of words, listening, and emotional education.
The event, organized by the Municipality in collaboration with local institutions, schools, and associations, aims to be an opportunity for intergenerational dialogue through literature, storytelling, and conversations with authors and educators. We wanted a festival that speaks about people’s inner lives, because emotional education is not only a school or literary topic, but a key to building more aware, empathetic, and united communities. Samatzai has always believed in the power of culture as a driver of social cohesion, and this festival is proof of that. During the festival days there will be workshops for young people, meetings with authors, literary readings, music, and moments of collective reflection, all in the name of sensitivity, personal growth, and inclusiveness. With this event, Samatzai renews its commitment to a living, participatory culture that can speak to everyone. We are waiting for you to ‘navigate’ together through emotions.”
“Caresses and Scars tells the double soul of the festival,” says artistic director Emanuela Porcu: “the words that heal and welcome, and the wounds that life leaves behind and that literature has the courage to face. An emotional journey that crosses themes such as identity, relationships, gender-based violence, change, resilience, and care.”
Special attention is given to themes of gender equality, interpersonal relationships, and violence, but also to children’s literature and philosophy for young people. Every meeting will be an opportunity to reflect, be moved, and engage with the most important voices of the contemporary literary scene, who through their stories not only narrate, but also heal the wounds of our society.
“A festival that is in the very nature of our Association,” declares Associazione Progresso Donna, “takes us into a sea of emotions and reflections on the everyday presence of evil, which too often finds no answers. It will be an event of great value thanks to the presence of people who have experienced evil on their own skin and who, through knowledge and storytelling, can offer tools of prevention and hope.”
The Program
Friday, 26 September 2025
Comunità Alloggio Caterina Ecca / Piazza Dott. Liscia
6:00 pm – Presentation of the book Cosa resta di me by Claudia Musio (La Zattera, 2025) – moderated by Serena Marras
7:00 pm – Literary reading by Associazione Progresso Donna from Erotica dei sentimenti by Maura Gancitano (Einaudi, 2025)
7:30 pm – Presentation of the book Familienalbum by Katia Fundarò (Ischire, 2024) – moderated by Ciro Auriemma
Musical entertainment with Maestro Michele Brandinu
Saturday, 27 September 2025
Casa del Fabbro
6:00 pm – Presentation of the book Il corpo sbagliato by Francesca Spanu (Il Maestrale, 2025) – moderated by Marta Serra
7:00 pm – Presentation of the book Se non dovessi sentirmi by Cecilia Lavatore (RedStar Press, 2025) – moderated by Associazione Progresso Donna
7:30 pm – Literary performance Amori o No by Cecilia Lavatore, based on Mia sorella è figlia unica (RedStar Press, 2024)
Musical accompaniment by Annalisa Manca
The full calendar of meetings, workshops, debates, and performances is available at:
www.laleggerezzadelmalefestival.it/programma-2025
Guest biographies:
www.laleggerezzadelmalefestival.it/ospiti
The Samatzai Literary Festival 2025 is much more than a book festival: it is a space for intergenerational dialogue that invites us to read the present with new eyes and to rediscover, between caresses and scars, the strength of community and culture.
Guests
The festival will host many authors, including Claudia Musio, Katia Fundarò, Francesca Spanu, Cecilia Lavatore, Francesca Safina, Irene Monge, Ilenia Zedda, Eva Rasano, Matteo Porru, Teresa Manes, Barbara Tamborini, Valeria Locati, Giacomo Mameli, Maria Francesca Chiappe, and Nicola Muscas, who will present their latest works in dialogue with moderators such as Serena Marras, Ciro Auriemma, Marta Serra, Gloria Corda, Emanuela Porcu, Roberto Caria, and Associazione Progresso Donna.
Alongside literary meetings, there will be workshops with Eva Rasano and Annalisa Manca, literary trekking with the association Andalas de Amistade, and activities for children and schools with Guardian Of Child Bikers, Custodi dei Minori, and Associazione Angeli nel Cuore of Arbus.
The program also includes special events: readings for patients of the Microcitemico hospital in collaboration with Renzo Galanello APS; the round table Futuri di carta with artistic directors Matteo Porru, Giacomo Mameli, Maurizio Cristella, and Francesca Spanu; the conference Liberarsi dalla violenza, abbracciare la felicità with professionals from CAV Feminas, Professor Antonio Macciò, and Maria Fois Maglione of Giardini di Lu; the concert of the polyphonic choir Schola Cantorum San Geminiano of Samassi; the musical show Canzoni dal Supercarcere by Daniela Cossiga; and the photographic exhibition The B-Side by photographer Fiorella Sanna.
Guest biographies are available at: www.laleggerezzadelmalefestival.it/ospiti.
In brief:
- Claudia Musio – Writer and IT officer at the University of Cagliari, author of novels translated abroad.
- Katia Fundarò – Teacher and writer, debuted with Familienalbum, shortlisted for the Strega Prize 2025.
- Francesca Spanu – Lawyer and director of the Monreale Literary Festival, debuted with Dentro la borsa.
- Cecilia Lavatore – Poet, writer, and Poetry Slam performer, winner of SIAE and NUOVO IMAIE awards.
- Francesca Safina – Psychologist and writer, debuted with Cambio vita cercasi (Garzanti, 2024).
- Irene Monge – Narrative philosopher and counselor, teaches Bibliotherapy at the University of Verona.
- Ilenia Zedda – Writer and copywriter, author for DeAgostini and Salani, winner of the Best New Talent Award 2020.
- Eva Rasano – Illustrator and children’s author, Andersen Prize 2024 and Nati per Leggere Prize 2015.
- Matteo Porru – Writer, screenwriter, and columnist, Campiello Giovani Prize and Grand Prix du Livre winner.
- Teresa Manes – Anti-bullying activist and Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.
- Barbara Tamborini – Psycho-pedagogue and bestselling author for parents and young people.
- Valeria Locati – Psychotherapist and book therapist, author and communicator on relationships and mental health.
- Giacomo Mameli – Journalist and writer, director of the Settesere, Settepiazze, Settelibri festival.
- Maria Francesca Chiappe – Journalist and writer from Cagliari, National Reporter of the Year Award 2008.
- Nicola Muscas – Journalist and writer, author of the novel Isla bonita (66thand2nd, 2021).
Partner Festivals
Festival dell’Altrove of Guasila, Festival Settesere Settepiazze Settelibri of Perdasdefogu, Book Fair of Iglesias, Monreale Literary Festival of San Gavino Monreale.
The Association of Cities of Raw Earth was founded in 2001 as an alliance among cities that recognize the value of raw-earth architecture and settlements as elements of the landscape that characterize their territories, as a basis for a model of sustainable development. The Association promotes the reuse of raw earth in contemporary building, starting from the protection, restoration, and reuse of traditional raw-earth buildings, promoting the use of natural materials in construction to support sustainable living. The Association adheres to the international document Living the Earth, for the Right to Build in Raw Earth, promoted in 2010 by CRATerre, the National School of Architecture of Grenoble, and many institutions and personalities who promote earth architecture worldwide.
Associazione Progresso Donna was founded in 2015 with the main aim of education in non-violence in all its forms. Over ten years of activity, it has built collaborations with schools and local associations, creating moments of debate and reflection through film forums, readings, and training courses on topics such as child exploitation, child brides, women’s emancipation, and gender-based violence. Collaboration agreements with the Municipality of Samatzai on issues such as environmental education, social and health matters, animal welfare, One Health, and the recovery of linguistic and historical identity have further encouraged active participation by the population.