A call to the origins. Stories of men and women on the road

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In the early 1900s, the family of Giovanna Magro, great-grandmother of Formula One driver Ayrton Senna, left with her family for Brazil, “bringing with them” the origins of a myth.
And it is precisely through the story of the family of the Formula 1 champion, honorary post-mortem citizen of Siculiana, much loved by young people, that we intend to promote a project to recover collective memory.
Siculiana is a town in the province of Agrigento, with a population of less than five thousand inhabitants.
Like many other realities in the south, it has been affected by the phenomenon of emigration.
The destinations of the Siculianesi were the nations of northern Europe, Canada and South America.
Over the decades, the link between the emigrant and his or her land, in many cases, has been broken.
The project proposal, of great socio-cultural importance, intends to recover a history that has strongly affected our identity.
The goal is to make the new generations aware of a phenomenon with a great socio-economic impact and, above all, to highlight the importance of the origins and the value of belonging to a territory and at the same time recover the memory of the “life of the past”.
What we do not know is why a farmer and a spinner decided at the end of the nineteenth century to leave a village overlooking the sea of Sicily to embark on a very long journey with no return.
What is not difficult to imagine is that the sun guided them.
Because the sun, in this story that spans two centuries, will always be the route to follow.
And yellow will forever be the color that gives the background to a story that has become a novel over a hundred years after the writing of the first chapter.
It is the yellow of the cultivated hills of Siculiana that look at the blue of the waves that break in Torre Salsa.
It is the yellow of Brazil crossed by the blue of the stylized flag on a helmet that has become an icon, a symbol, a signature at the bottom of the most romantic chapters.
Call to the origins: Ayrton Senna is a project that aims to promote initiatives and places to enhance history, traditions and places of memory that become a quality tourist proposal. From a historical research, the Sicilian roots of the F1 sports champion Ayrton Senna have emerged and the story of his great-grandmother, Giovanna Magro, who moved to Brazil at the end of the 19th century, has been reconstructed, where by marrying Sena she thus gave life to the History of the Champion. The phenomenon of emigration has affected many Siculianesi, the destinations were, in addition to Europe, Canada and the United States, also South America. We are in the presence of many children of migrants, even second generation, who need to make known the socio-economic impact but above all, highlight the importance of the origins and the value of belonging to a territory and at the same time recover the memory of the “life of the past”. The origins of Senna today become a Museum, which tells, through augmented reality, the events of the family and its Sicilian roots, on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the champion’s death. The initiative would give impetus to the “return to the origins” of the many Siculiansi abroad and would represent an opportunity linked to “roots tourism” inviting those who have left our land to return to relive their history. A weekend of events, from 26 to 28 July 2024, dedicated to the theme of emigration. Through theater, art, music, cinema, territorial animation, the historic center will be transformed into a “stage”. Three days full of stories, memories, memory, a calendar that will involve residents, in particular the elderly, and will allow the new generations to understand a phenomenon, emigration, which has profoundly marked our identity.
A fascinating journey full of sounds and flavors, a “trunk” that will open and become the symbol of “departure”.
Inside the faces of men and women who have changed their destiny far from their origins.
The program includes several initiatives:
– AYRTON SENNA: CALL TO THE ORIGINS.
An event dedicated to the Brazilian champion.
The story of his origins, of the sportsman and the man who indelibly marked the world of Formula One.
An evening with guests who knew him and shared important moments of his life with Senna.
During the day, the registers of the registry office of the municipality that refer to the origins of the Senna family will be exhibited.
LOCATION: CLOCK TOWER – Piazza Umberto I
DATE: Friday, July 26, 2024
OPENING HOURS: from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 17:00 to 21:00

– THE CARDBOARD SUITCASE – In the story of the emigrants it has become the symbol of departure to try elsewhere to change one’s destiny of misery, many testimonies for an exhibition.
The exhibition includes a path, with the installation of suitcases containing: vintage photos, letters, objects.
A historical account of the phenomenon of emigration.
LOCATION: Living Lab – Piazza Umberto I
DATE: July 26 to 28, 2024
OPENING HOURS: from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 17:00 to 21:00

– SI MARITAIU ROSA – At the Mete Museum, an evening of folk songs and dances of the Sicilian tradition, the soundtrack of those who have left their land, who have brought with them, through music, the traditions handed down by their grandparents.
PLACE: Mete Museum – via Santalucia
DATE: July 26, 2024
TIME: 21:00

– THE GRANDPARENTS’ HOUSE – In the historic center of Siculiana, a property has been identified that keeps intact the characteristics of the early twentieth century and will offer a glimpse of “daily life”.
Inside, moments of theatrical animation will be promoted, to raise awareness of the lifestyle of farmers, fishermen and housewives.
A way to allow young people to interact with a reality that is very distant from today’s life, but which can make them understand their roots.
The project will involve elderly people who will tell, through their memories, the phenomenon of “departure”.
As was the custom in the past, chairs will be placed outside the “Grandparents’ House” to allow the visitor to listen to the stories and interact with those who have witnessed the phenomenon of emigration.
LOCATION: Historic center, via Casale
DATE: July 27, 2024
TIME: from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

– ONE-WAY TICKET – A moment of discussion through books, oral stories and experts on the phenomenon of emigration.
An opportunity to tell our story and understand the evolution of a phenomenon that still affects many young people today.
An appointment enriched by musical and theatrical interventions on the theme and with tasting of traditional products legal to peasant civilization.
PLACE: Garden of the Sanctuary, via Collegio
DATE: Saturday, July 27
TIME: 21:00

– CUNTAMI NA STORIA – The protagonist will be the Storyteller.
Mythical character who animated squares and courtyards with tales of true stories or legendary characters.
At the ancient Borgo Marinaro of Siculiana Marina, residents and visitors will be able to relive the atmosphere of the past.
To accompany the music and words the tasting of typical products.
PLACE: SICULIANA MARIANA – Piazzetta San Pietro
DATE: Sunday, July 28, 2024
TIME: 21:00