The Mediterranean as a Mosaic of Cultures: Matera and the Challenge of Being a Capital of Dialogue
For the first time, an Italian city will hold the title of Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue, and that city is Matera. A place that does not merely represent the beauty of the Mediterranean but embodies its complexity and cultural stratification. Through the Terre Immerse project, Matera becomes a symbol of a Mediterranean that is not just a sea, but an intricate network of territories, histories, and evolving relationships.
Terre Immerse is not just a title; it is a vision. As David Sassoli said in 2019, at the closing ceremony of Matera’s year as European Capital of Culture:
"What purpose would our artistic and cultural heritage serve if it did not make us more human?"
This question is at the heart of the project, which aims to use culture as a tool for dialogue, inclusion, and social cohesion.
The project celebrates the connection between inland and coastal areas of the Mediterranean, highlighting their immense cultural and natural richness. Through the metaphor of cultural transhumance, a symbol of movement and connection, Terre Immerse seeks to bridge seemingly distant territories, from the ancient Sassi of Matera to cities in neighboring regions. Each stop along this journey will be an opportunity to enhance local identities and forge new connections between communities and cultures.
Matera, with its layered identity, stands as the ideal place to foster a dialogue between past and future, between inland and coastal regions, between local and global perspectives. The partnership with Tetouan, the Moroccan city that will also hold the title of Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue 2026, is a fundamental pillar of this project. Together, these two cities will build a cultural bridge between the North and South of the Mediterranean, celebrating unity in diversity.
In a Mediterranean that today faces conflicts and challenges, Terre Immerse demonstrates that culture is not just memory, but a catalyst for social change and the construction of a more inclusive future. As Nasser Kamel, Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean, emphasized:
"We cannot ignore the power of culture to build bridges and promote the dialogue we so desperately need."
Terre Immerse is a project that celebrates the Mediterranean as a place of encounters and shared growth. Follow our journey on LinkedIn to see how we are turning this vision into reality—one step at a time.
Photo credits by Pixabay
