«A town is necessary, if only for the sake of pleasure in leaving it. A town means not being alone, knowing that in the people, in the plants, in the soil, there is something of yours, that even when you are not there, it stays waiting for you.» — Cesare Pavese
Torcito Park, one of those places where you know when you enter but you don’t know when you’ll leave—and not because it’s a sort of labyrinth or vicious cycle (maybe it is that too), but because it is immense: acres and acres of land expanding as far as the eye can see, hidden quarries, remains of Roman roads emerging from the earth, and a clear, bright blue sky that only the South can offer (no offense to the Northerners, but unfortunately this is a matter of fact).
50 THOUSAND METERS OF LAND
In the middle of this uncontaminated nature, someone—after years and years of disuse—decided, perhaps in a moment of madness or perhaps in a moment of true awareness, to take this territory for four days and turn it into an open-air festival.
Torcito is born from the desire to bring together music, art, nature, and tourism, all with the awareness that certain events can be the soul that helps a territory value itself in all its nuances.
And so, starting July 23rd, this park that has been closed for years will come alive with a new soul made of events, smiles, experiences, and madness—as mad (madness being that ability to dare when others remain still and motionless) as the protagonists of this project are.
A MAD MIND
Torcito will be the body of this event, but the soul will be its protagonists: those who strongly believed in this project, starting with Michele Manca, the creator. He’s one of those characters who seems straight out of a TV series: while he’s talking, his brain is already thinking about a hundred other things, and his hands are writing another hundred. We don’t think it’s easy to keep up with him, but perhaps only from such a spirit could the idea of a festival across 50,000 square meters be born.
A POLITE MIND
But a festival is not a one-way project; it is a shared thought, an idea that develops among several heads. One of these heads is Luisa Carlà, a sweet and polite soul, yet at the same time possessing a strong and direct personality.
She’s the kind of person capable of telling you to fuck off with sweetness—typical of a Virgo with a Cancer ascendant (and you know how much we love zodiac signs).
«I started out as a painter, but ever since I was little, I always wanted to create togetherness, to enclose everything I like in a single container. My exhibitions always ended up becoming parties. I always felt a lack of a genuine desire to share in the art world, and I wanted to create a place where different disciplines could coexist in the same space.» Luisa Carlà
She, with her project Sapore di Mare, will bring to Spiritosa Torcito an intimate project born four years ago at Lido Turrisi in San Cataldo: an ancient beach establishment transformed into a gallery, with one artist per cabin featuring painting, photography, theatrical improvisation, and even fortune-telling, alternating pop moments with deep emotional suggestions. All of this will be transferred to the woods of Torcito (we invite you to go and tell us about it).
“It’s a format I love viscera-deeply and that I always thought I couldn’t take outside. Now we are trying to do it at Torcito with the artists I consider most suitable to experience the woods, with the right fear and respect of those who know they must inhabit this sacred space on tiptoe, as it deserves.” Luisa Carlà
I REFUSE
And then Torcito also manages to capture Cesare Dell’Anna, someone who has music in his blood—a musician born into a brass band, a second-generation artist who made music his world.
Cesare is one of those characters who aren't afraid to say what they think; one of those characters who, in a historical period made of abuses, puts his face out there and decides to bring his band Opa Cupa (which celebrates 30 years this year) to the stage of Torcito. The musicians of OPA CUPA come from all over the world—every part of this fucking world is part of that band. But above all, joining him at Torcito will be a Palestinian singer, and perhaps this alone is a message worth noting (and if you don’t agree with us this time, we couldn’t care less).
“I refuse to write music by hand.”
Perhaps this phrase encapsulates Cesare’s personality: I refuse. A refusal toward everything that is taken for granted, toward everything that is linear, toward everything that is duty rather than passion.
Music should be passion, music should move you, and perhaps we have forgotten that.
THE TERRITORY
Woods, markets, the Masseria, wellness area, kids area, music... obviously, we don’t have a crystal ball to predict how it will go, but we can say with absolute certainty that it takes b***s to plan a festival like this, but above all, love for one’s territory. Because in a territory like Puglia, often lacking in such initiatives, it is exciting to think of something that will move people toward unique experiences that will remain in their minds.
«Spiritosa at Torcito is born from the idea that quality culture and entertainment can be concrete tools for territorial regeneration. We want to build a place where music, art, nature, and community dialogue with each other, creating new opportunities for Salento, for those who live it, and for those who visit it. SAT is not an event destined to end in four days: it is the beginning of a project that looks to the future of the territory.» Michele Manca
Spiritosa, how can you not go? I live on humor, I love it so much.
The quote isn't from Spaghetty Western, but it sums up our thoughts.
