30 thousand and more. At the moment. They will certainly increase further, because tourists choose Basilicata and bookings are constantly growing. The Exhibition, then, is extended until 15 September 2019. It's official, so get organized to see "The Renaissance seen from the south. Matera, southern Italy and the Mediterranean between the 400th and 500th centuries”. Unique opportunity, in this Matera 2019 that never ceases to captivate and enchant. For the works of art, but also for its natural beauties. The exhibition promoted by the Polo Museale and the Matera Foundation is certainly the most successful event of the review. Curated by Pierluigi Leone de Castris, Matteo Ceriana and Dora Catalano, it is taken as an example of the extraordinary success of visitors and critics. We have reached the turning point. In the first six months of the national and international redemption of the city, a former national shame for its Sassi. At Palazzo Lanfranchi since the beginning of 2019, the entrances to the Southern Renaissance have reached 30.000 and are increasing day by day. 12 visitors entered with the Matera 2019 passport: the happy organizational intuition that allows you to spend little and admire a lot. In the first six months, 450 events have been organised, 36 passports sold and about 130 citizens involved. Starting from the historic inaugural ceremony with the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella.
I numbers of Matera 2019 were presented in Rome at the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities. There were iMinister Alberto Bonisolate e Giovanni Panebianco, General Secretary of the Mibac. All satisfied and proud of the proof that we are giving as a country. The city has managed to speak to Lucanians, Europeans, volunteers, artists. And among the memories of the first 180 days, the organizers did well to recall Mattarella's message: the symbolic meaning of the event, the sense of how through culture even those realities that have faced difficult moments can redeem themselves. Extraordinary challenges in Europe can be overcome with culture, Mattarella said and we well remember. In January like today, it is a warning to all those who speak out of turn about Europe.
Salvatore Adduce, president of the Matera Basi Foundationlicata2019 in Rome he claimed the merit of having been able to dialogue with all the institutions, in order to bring Matera to the center of world attention after the candidacy of 2014. The first time of a small city, moreover in a poor region of Italy, far a thousand kilometers from the "European" cities of the North, yet proud of its traditions and history. The people queuing up or vying for a place to go and see a show is the plastic image of how much culture is coveted in Matera today. The leaders of the Foundation say it together with the Manager Paul verri , while the data shows: 450 events produced, 80% of which original productions; about 400 artists, 40% from Europe; 80.000 accesses to events; 50.000 people at the inaugural ceremony. Are you happy? Not yet, because here the machine runs with 10.000 people active in the initiatives; 1500 volunteers from Matera and beyond; 900 citizens involved in the Gardentopia urban green regeneration project, 2.000 who came to light, each building their own bag-light, . Summer has arrived and the events will continue for another six months. The numbers say very well what is being done, which condemn the pessimists and those insensitive to art, to culture, to knowledge. The Lucan challenge, quietly feared, has already been won. There is time to think all together so as not to leave Matera 2019 alone in the history books.
