XX° ANNIVERSARY UNESCO X SIRACUSA
Under the artistic direction of Giuliano Peparini, the evening was transformed into a living fresco, both popular and refined.
On July 17, 2025, in the majestic setting of the Greek Theatre of Syracuse, Na Nuttata ri Passioni took place—a unique performance created to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the inscription of Syracuse and the Rock Necropolises of Pantalica on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The event was organized by the INDA Foundation (Istituto Nazionale del Dramma Antico), at the invitation of the Mayor of Syracuse, Francesco Italia, who entrusted Giuliano Peparini with marking this historic celebration through a popular artistic evening, open to the city and to the world.
“I imagined a gathering open to all, where text, music, dance, and image could meet… My ambition was to create an immersive and poetic experience, capable of touching everyone.”
Conceived as a poetic and visual journey, the performance explored myths, literary narratives, and pictorial works tied to the history of Syracuse: from the myth of Medea to The Leopard, through the words of Gibran, Pirandello, Ovid, and Plutarch.
“We walked a subtle line, between emotion and restraint. Each fragment of text had to become a breath, a suspended moment.”
Photo© – Franca Centaro
A Celebration of Memory and Beauty
On stage, renowned artists succeeded one another to embody this journey: Alberto Matano, Levante, Vinicio Marchioni, Angelo Madonia and many others.
Choreography and stage direction intertwined the arts, giving life to a narrative where historical memory merged with contemporary creation.
Na Nuttata ri Passioni gave voice to the soul of Sicily through the founding myths of the Mediterranean, great literary and philosophical works, the landscapes and architecture of Syracuse, the imagery of Italian cinema (The Leopard, Cinema Paradiso) and music as the guiding thread of emotion.
For Giuliano Peparini, this evening was also a tribute to transmission:
“UNESCO chose to celebrate Syracuse and Sicily because they represent a living heritage. Our duty is to make it resonate with the present and pass it on to future generations.”
Beyond the artistic creation, Peparini emphasized the strong and genuine bond that now unites him with the community of Syracuse:
“A warm, affectionate, authentic bond that moves me deeply… Every encounter in the streets conveys to me a sincere trust, which compels me never to disappoint.”
With Na Nuttata ri Passioni, Giuliano Peparini and the INDA Foundation offered a timeless evening, envisioned by Mayor Francesco Italia to mark a historic anniversary. An homage in which memory, art, and emotion came together to celebrate Syracuse and Sicily, in a universal tribute to beauty—the very force that keeps us alive.
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JULY 2025
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YEARS UNESCO
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ARTISTS
Photo© – Franca Centaro
