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Giuseppe Liuccio

Giuseppe Liuccio (May 1, 1934–July 18, 2023) was a poet, writer, journalist, professor, and public administrator, known for his ongoing commitment to the cultural and social development of Cilento and the Amalfi Coast. A key figure in the intellectual and political life of Southern Italy for over half a century, he coherently combined literary activity, journalistic dissemination, teaching, and administration, with a strong humanist, socialist, and pro-European orientation.

Biography

 

Born in Trentinara (Salerno), Cilento, on May 1, 1934, to a family of peasant origins, he was affectionately called "Giuseppino" due to his small build at birth. He spent his childhood in the heart of rural Cilento, immersed in peasant traditions, spirituality, and the legacy of Magna Graecia, initially studying in the seminary. His encounter with the poetry of Rocco Scotellaro marked a turning point: he abandoned the path of the priesthood to dedicate himself to social and cultural commitment. After graduating in Literature from the Federico II University of Naples, he began a teaching career in classical high schools, particularly at the Agropoli High School and at the "Matteo Camera" High School in Amalfi, where he taught Latin and Greek from 1961 to 1982. Furthermore, for a short period of time was appointed as school principal of the Virgilio High School in Rome.

Political and administrative commitment

A reformist socialist, he served as a councilor and city councilor in Amalfi, a member of the Trentinara city council, and the Calore Salernitano Mountain Community. At the national level, he served as cabinet chief to the Minister for Urban Areas Carmelo Conte and as a consultant to the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Foreign Trade. He chaired the Amalfi Tourist Board (appointed by Minister Achille Corona) and subsequently that of Maiori. In this capacity, he promoted numerous cultural, artistic, and tourism events that contributed to the development of the Amalfi Coast's Mediterranean identity. These include:

  • The Salvatore Quasimodo Literary Prize (1968), in the presence of the Nobel Prize-winning poet;

  • The contemporary art exhibitions "Arte Povera" and "Perceptive Impact";

  • The series of meetings "The artist of the month", which saw the participation of Salvatore Quasimodo, Dino Buzzati, Alfonso Gatto, Federico Fellini;

  • Entertainment and tourism promotion events such as "ModaMare", "The most beautiful in the Mediterranean", "The Theatre in the Square" (1966);

  • The conference "Scientific experts in tourism", considered a forerunner of a future university faculty of tourism;

  • The "GustaMinori" event, which combined food and wine promotion, entertainment, and Mediterranean culture, with guests such as Gualtiero Marchesi, Tullio Gregory, Maria Luisa Spaziani, and Mario Luzi.

Journalism​

A professional journalist, he has collaborated with numerous Italian newspapers, including: "Il Mattino", "L'Avanti!" (from 1965 to 1992), "La Città", "Repubblica", "Bell'Italia", "Bell'Europa", "Il Giornale di Napoli", "PositanoNews" and "Unico Settimanale".

 

Within RAI he was the author and presenter of radio and television broadcasts of a cultural, historical and tourist nature. Among the programs conceived and conducted:

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  • Radio: "The Golden Age", "The Other Italy", "The Italian Province", "Objective Europe", "Weekend Europe", "Last Audience for the Earth";

  • Television: "Made in Italy", "The magic of the hands", "The Park of Wonders" (on the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park).

 

Literary activity​

A prolific author, he has published works in poetry, fiction, non-fiction and memoirs, often focusing on Cilento, the Amalfi Coast and Southern Italy. He wrote both in Italian and in the Cilento dialect, bringing to the fore the popular traditions and cultural identity of the territory. Among his poetic works and short stories are: "A transito di giorno", "Calore: il fiume e la Valle", "Chianto r'amore", "Chesta è la terra mia", "Cilento a tavola", "Cilento: poesia di paesi", "Cuocicore poesie cimentate", "Il fiore dei poveri", "Il miracolo delle mani", "La memoria rimossa", "La mia Maiori", "La mia terra amphibia", "La poesia dei paesi",  "The seasons of love", "I miss the country", "Myths of Cilento", "Myths of land and sea", "Mythos and logos", "South without and with", "Tanno e mò", "Terre di Liguria", "Viaggio in Cilento".

Many of his poems have been set to music, contributing to the dissemination of the popular repertoire of Cilento and Amalfi. Among the main performers: Franco Nico and Pina Cipriani.

 

He has also published essays, short stories and novels including: "Love and loves", "Cilento and Freedom", "Cilento in chiaroscuro", "From coast to coast: from Positano to Sapri", "The villages of the soul", "The Leopard as near the Risorgimento", "The Cilento Park, an opportunity for development", "My Paestum", "The mayoress", "Letter to the mother", "The honor of the South", "Quasimodo Amalfitano",  "Lands of love: Cilento and the Amalfi Coast", "A Nobel Prize-winning cuisine. Quasimodo and Montale at the table".

 

He edited editorial series dedicated to the villages of the South, such as: "L'Amalfi di Quasimodo", "Paestum di Ungaretti", "Positano di Andrés", "Vietri di Prezzolini", also translated into English.

 

Awards​

In 2004 he received the Culture Prize of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers for his poetic activity. In 2007 he was appointed Knight of the Italian Republic. Other awards include:

  • ​Chianciano Awards (1981, 1983, 1984);

  • Woman City of Rome Award;

  • Bassano Ponte d'Oro Award;

  • European Personality Award;

  • Europe Golden Lauro Award;

  • Navicella dello Spettacolo Award;

  • Tarì d'oro of Amalfi;

  • Sapri Prize - Carlo Pisacane;

  • Treviso Prize;

  • Minturnae Prize;

  • Marengo d'oro Award;

  • Aeclanum Award;

  • Circeo Prize: poetry of the sea;

  • Montale Prize: fiction;

  • City of Gioi Award;

  • José Ortega Prize (poetry);

  • Francesco De Sanctis Award (2012)

  • International Prize of the Italian Cultural Institute of Naples and the International Journal "Nuove Lettere" (2014);

  • Recognition as "Poet of the Amalfi Coast" by the Conference of Mayors of the Amalfi Coast (2014);

  • Giambattista Vico Award (2014);

  • Finalist at the Città di Castello Prize – poetry section (2015);

  • Honorary Citizenship of the Municipality of Minori (2016);

  • Lifetime Achievement Award of the International Poetry Prize of the Lions Club "Poseidonia-Paestum" (2019).

 

Disappearance and memory​

Giuseppe Liuccio passed away in Rome on July 18, 2023. Commemorative articles, cultural events and namings have been dedicated to him, including a cultural center in Trentinara in 2024. On October 25, 2024, the family, in particular his daughter Michaela, established the Non-Profit Association "Da Costa a Costa: Giuseppe Liuccio", with the aim of promoting projects in the territories dear to him and in his memory.

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