Night of San Lorenzo: Matera as a starry sky to reflect on the environment

On the occasion of the night of San Lorenzo, August 10, the Matera Basilicata 2019 Foundation, in collaboration with the Municipality of Matera, APT Basilicata, Parco della Murgia Materana, and the Open Culture 2019 Volunteers Association, is organizing Matera starry sky. A riveder le stelle. This is a widespread event in the Sasso Caveoso in Matera, which revives the ancient tradition of Matera cielo stellato, revived by Francesco Foschino in 2013, during Matera’s candidacy as European Capital of Culture, and then on the occasion of the Inaugural Ceremony of Matera 2019, together with Saverio Tarasco and Vito Cappuccio.

The initiative, designed as an opportunity to turn the lights back on culture after the difficult period of the pandemic, intends to focus on one of the G20 themes, namely caring for the planet. In the program of Matera European Capital of Culture 2019, there have been several initiatives aimed at the theme of environmental sustainability: among them, the Interreg Europe Night Light project, aimed at improving regional policies to reduce light pollution, raise awareness of energy conservation, and protect and enhance the night sky also with ecotourism proposals, such as astroturism. Basilicata turns out to be one of the Italian regions with a higher percentage of dark skies and a large extension of natural parks, from Pollino to Murgia Materana, which can ensure the protection and preservation of natural ecosystems including the sky. It is precisely in this direction that the August 10 initiative is moving.

Around 9:15 p.m., in part of the Sasso Caveoso the public lighting will be turned off while small lamps will be lit, transforming the heart of the city, all the way to the Murgia, into a real starry sky. From the cliff of the Church of Madonna de Idris will rise the voices and sounds of artists Arsene Duevi, a musician, singer and ethnomusicologist from Togo, and Dudu Kouatè, a multi-instrumentalist born in Senegal, merged with those of Valentina Pinto (aka Midorii) a jazz singer, arranger and violinist, a rising star on the national music scene, accompanied by pianist Nicola Pannarale, both trained at the Matera Conservatory. Citizens will then be invited to turn their gaze from the city’s starry sky upward to enjoy the dark sky and stargaze. Matera Starry Sky. A riveder le stelle will be streamed live on Matera 2019’s social channels and broadcast live on TRM network.

“With this initiative,” explains Giovanni Oliva, Director General of the Matera Basilicata 2019 Foundation, “we intend to raise awareness of the value of the night sky, connected to the issue of light pollution. We have thus chosen a very evocative formula, to stimulate citizens and visitors, on the most special evening for stargazing, not to keep their gaze downward but to raise it and admire the sky, reclaiming this direct contact with nature, in the wake of the philosopher Immanuel Kant’s famous reflection ’the starry sky above me, the moral law within me.’ For this we thank the various parties who are working synergistically with us for the success of the project: Francesco Foschino with Saverio Tarasco and Vito Cappuccio, the Basilicata APT, the Murgia Materana Park, the Municipality of Matera, the Basilicata Region and in particular the Environment and Energy Department, and the Open Culture 2019 Volunteers Association.”

Ph.Credit

Night of San Lorenzo: Matera as a starry sky to reflect on the environment

Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.