site.btaNicodemo Misiti to Present Photo Exhibition, Give Lecture on South Italy's Folk Customs in Sofia

Italian photographer and researcher Nicodemo Misiti will present his photography exhibition “Nicodemo Misiti: Millennial Traditions of South Italy” and give a lecture on the folk customs of South Italy at Sofia's Central Market Hall on March 28, the organizers said.

Dedicated to documenting the ancient traditions of South Italy, Misiti combines his passion for photography with a vast historical and anthropological knowledge. His project focuses on the history, culture and traditions of the southern Italian regions, aiming to showcase the customs, festivals, religious traditions and cuisine of the small villages of the South, many of which are often overlooked and at risk of being forgotten.

 “His works highlight the cultural richness of Calabria, a region of Italy that has been influenced by various civilizations, from the ancient Greeks to the more recent Bourbons,” the organizers said.

Misiti has captured various customs, including the Festa della Pita, an ancient fertility ritual in the Pollino mountains, and the carnival in Alessandria, known for its white masks adorned with colorful ornaments and large scarves that hide the identity of the wearers. Other traditions include the Vattienti di Nocera Terinese, a public self-flagellation linked to popular religiosity, and the Spinati festival of San Rocco in Palmi, where people walk barefoot through the streets carrying a conical basket made of spiny broom branches.

The event is organized by the Italian Cultural Institute in Sofia in collaboration with the Central Market Hall. The lecture will be given in Italian, with consecutive interpretation into Bulgarian, the organizers said.