The Italian Ministry of Culture reports that 17 cities have finalized their candidacy for Italian Capital of Culture 2027, after submitting their project proposal by the Sept. 26 deadline under the call for proposals.

The dossiers, which contain the one-year cultural project, including details of the timetable and individual planned activities as well as an assessment of economic and financial sustainability, will be evaluated by a jury of experts who will review the applications and select a maximum of ten finalists by December 12, 2024.

The winning city for 2027 will be chosen after public hearings, which must take place by March 12, 2025, for the presentation and in-depth examination of the candidacy dossier to the jury. The proclamation of the Italian Capital of Culture will be held by March 28, 2025.

The winner will receive a financial contribution of one million euros to realize the objectives pursued by the nomination project and make the dossier become an action program to showcase, in the period of one year, its cultural richness and implement the development possibilities offered by the nomination.

These are the candidate cities with their program title:

1. Acerra (province of Naples, Campania) “The Secrets of Pulcinella”

2. Aiello Calabro (province of Cosenza, Calabria) “Ajello terra antica et grossa et nobile et civile...”

3. Alberobello (province of Bari, Puglia) “Pietramadre”

4. Aliano (province of Matera, Basilicata) “Terra dell'altrove”

5. Brindisi (Puglia, Italy) “Navigating the future.”

6. Caiazzo (province of Caserta, Campania) “The beauty of small things.”

7. Gallipoli (province of Lecce, Puglia) “The beautiful between land and sea.”

8. La Spezia (Liguria, Italy) “A culture like the sea.”

9. Mazzarino (province of Caltanissetta, Sicily) “Mazaris, wheat and plural identities”

10. Morano Calabro (Cosenza province, Calabria) “Morano Calabro: The Four Gates of Knowledge. A Journey through Culture, Science, Nature and Spirituality.”

11. Pompeii (province of Naples, Campania) “Pompeii Continuum”

12. Pordenone (Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy) “Pordenone 2027. City that surprises.”

13. Reggio Calabria (Calabria, Italy) “Heart of the Mediterranean.”

14. Sant'Andrea di Conza (province of Avellino, Campania) “Meeting time”

15. Santa Maria Capua Vetere (province of Caserta, Campania) “Cultura Regina Viarum - Spartacus Resurgit”

16. Savona (Liguria, Italy) “New routes for culture.”

17. Taverna (province of Catanzaro, Calabria) “Inner Beauty.”

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)