Participation is reserved for those who register by October 2nd.
The Prezzolini Prize was founded in 1983 when its author, Maestro Luciano Guarnieri, donated a collection to the Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze, titled "Prezzolini: The Man and the Writer in His Workshop." The collection consists of forty-five drawings, pastels, and watercolors depicting the late writer, already a centenarian, working in his home in Lugano, alternating with glimpses of places, such as Vietri Sul Mare, where he had spent part of his life. The fruit of these moments of affection and trust from the elderly writer, scholar, animator, and protagonist of so many cultural battles could not be wasted. Instead, it should remain in Florence, the city whose character and culture inspired Prezzolini, and therefore a refugee, as is the tradition of other great Florentines, who have sometimes loved this contradictory city with a bitter passion.
This donation, which saw Prezzolini's return to Florence, albeit in effigy, provided the Cassa di Risparmio with the opportunity to establish a Fund to be used to periodically award prizes to Italians and foreigners who had distinguished themselves in the fields of literature, the arts, sciences, and crafts.
An award not to highlight the value of individual works, but to recognize the entire work of men and women who have enriched culture and therefore civilization with love and intelligence.
An award in Prezzolini's name, inspired by the example and intentions of a man who, until the last days of his life, fought, through his writings and his words, to demonstrate that the pursuit of truth, against all dismay and hypocrisy, through the virtue of ingenuity, and through the effort of perseverance in enlightening oneself and others, are the highest manifestations of the human spirit.
The Prize was first awarded in 1984 and continued with biennial editions until 2003. Then, as all of Prezzolini's friends and acquaintances gradually passed away, it was decided to discontinue it, but the Bank reserved the right to continue, independently and without constraints, all initiatives it deemed appropriate to commemorate the figure of Giuseppe Prezzolini.
In 2012, the Cassa Risparmio Firenze Library Foundation was established to continue the cultural aims of the Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze Bank, now incorporated into Intesa Sanpaolo SpA.
In 2023, the Cassa Risparmio Firenze Library Foundation, the CR Firenze Foundation, and Intesa Sanpaolo SpA decided to revive the Prize, according to its original format, awarding two prizes: one to an intellectual who has distinguished himself in the fields of literature, the arts, or science, and the other to an artisan who has honored the ancient tradition of craftsmanship through his craft.
A Technical Commission was then set up, composed of Francesco Perfetti (President), Aureliano Benedetti, Bernabò Bocca, Stefano Lucchini, Tito Nocentini, Giuseppe Morbidelli and Sandro Rogari, who awarded the two prizes for the 2024 Edition to the Ambassador and Historian Maurice Serra, Member of theAcadémie française e Paul Pagliai well-known Florentine silversmith.
The new edition of the Award also includes the “Witness of Time” award, which this year is assigned to Charles Messina, Managing Director and CEO of Intesa Sanpaolo.
