At the Crossroads of the Past and the Future: Ciociaria, Seen Through Women's Eyes.

 

I am a force of the Past.

All my love goes to tradition.

I come from the ruins, the churches, the altarpieces, the forgotten villages of the Apennines where my brothers lived.

I wander like a madman, like a stray dog, or I watch the sunsets, the mornings

Over Rome, over Ciociaria, over the world.

Extract from the poetry of Pier Paolo Pasolini (1964)

 

 

Ciociaria, once known as "the poor territories," has always been rich in wheat, wine, labor, and history. A land of shepherds, steeped in tradition and folklore, the region offers a perfect blend of nature and culture to those who seek it.

 

At the heart of this land, nestled in the fertile Comino Valley, lies the ancient town of Atina. Founded by the gods and shaped by legends, Atina and the Valle di Comino cannot rely solely on their past to build a promising future. Like all other villages in Ciociaria—Atina, Casalvieri, Posta Fibreno, Alvito, Gallinaro, Settefrati, Villa Latina, Picinisco, San Donato Val di Comino, to name a few—they strive to escape economic stagnation and population decline.

 

Through an exhibition featuring texts and images, our association will introduce you to the cultural vibrancy of this rural land. It is a unique reconstruction process that, since the tragic events of World War II and mass emigration, has primarily been an emotional journey. The proud reappropriation of identity in Italy seems to take shape through the promotion of local wineries and gastronomic products. But it is also strengthened by an artistic renaissance, featuring painters, sculptors, writers, and talented artisans, who maintain the close link between the Ciociarian people and contemporary art.

 

Lastly, this identity is crystallized in the preservation of heritage, which includes religious and civic buildings, trails, and archaeological treasures. The exhibition deliberately gives a female perspective on craftsmanship, beliefs, gastronomy, power struggles, major arts, emancipation, education, and traditions in general. Following in the footsteps of remarkable Ciociarian women—past and present—the exhibition pays tribute to citizens who boldly embrace this collective movement.

 

The exhibition collects stories of inspiring women, who, from the advent of the modern era through World War II, have waited too long to be recognized. Here, they share their vision of modernity in a region that is still waiting to be truly discovered by the wider public. Between emancipation and traditionalism, do Ciociarian women not perfectly embody the soul of Italy?