The
cultural and folkloric association "URBANITAS" participates
actively in organizing the internatlonal folkloric festival
TERRANOSTRA, a gala affair celebrated annually in Apiro
from August 7 to August 15.
Inaugurated in 1970 under the auspices of C.I.O.F.F.,
TERRANOSTRA steadily consolidated its success in the following
years, having become at the present time one of the most
important folkloric festivals in Italy.
The
yearly celebration constitutes one of the most important
and eagerly awaited events in the social and cultural
life of our little town, which during the August holidays
most willingly hosts the joyful and peaceful invasion
of people who hail from a wide range of countries both
far and near.
The
festival officially initiates with the presentation of
the guest performers, who are received by the mayor in
the boardroom of the City Hall, where a welcoming ceremony
takes place, together with an exchange of gifts. The gala
is customarily brought to an end on the evening of August
15, by an impressive and fascinating concluding performance.
The
folkloric troupes, or companies, the real protagonists
of TERRANOSTRA, enliven the atmosphere throughout the
duration of the festival as they alternately execute one
stage performance after another, displaying in the process
a vast array of voices, musical styles, rhythms, movements
and dances, which the creativity of the various cultures
has produced over the centurie as an authentic expression
of their individual ethnic spirit.
The
performances instill in the audience impressions which,
although difficult to describe, invariably register, nonetheless,
great success with the spectators. During the August festival,
moreover, the unusual presence in Apiro of folkloric groups
so markedly diversified in nationality and ethnicity,
cannot but be considered truly noteworthy. In fact, the
friendly, and even fraternal, association and collaboration
of such heterogeneous groups bear witness to a pervading
hope and desire that all people may be united in peace
and brotherhood.
N.B. For further informations: http://www.festivalterranostra.net