Past Editions: Cerealia 2011 – The Cereal Festival
“In the Footsteps of Ceres: The World of Cereals Between History, Economy, and Environment” Cities Involved: Rome and Ariccia
From June 9 to 12, 2011, the first edition of CEREALIA – The Festival of Cereals took place in Rome and Ariccia. Promoted and conceived by M.Th.I. and the ArcheoClub of Rome, on the occasion of its 40th anniversary, the event was organized in collaboration with Iter, the Cultural Office of the Egyptian Embassy, and other partners.
The ancient rituals performed by the Vestal Virgins, reenacted in scenic form, represented the “Roman” element of the festival. In connection with the Mediterranean, the partner country was Egypt.
The central moment of the event was the conference held on June 10, entitled “In the Footsteps of Ceres: The World of Cereals Between History, Economy, and Environment”, attended by representatives from scientific, economic, and cultural institutions from Italy and Egypt.
The core of the first edition was the Esquilino urban area in Rome: some activities took place at the Auditorium of Mecenate, managed by the ArcheoClub of Rome in collaboration with Iter. Outside Rome, a rich program was organized in Ariccia by the local ArcheoClub.
The festival opened on June 9 at the Auditorium of Mecenate with a conversation between journalist Alberto Angela and Prof. Romolo Augusto Staccioli, president of the ArcheoClub of Rome, titled “Conversation on the Tourism of the Ancients, with Particular Reference to Pharaonic Egypt.”
The program was extensive, with many free-to-access activities: educational workshops for children, performances, gastronomic walking tours, themed meetings and conversations accompanied by tastings, show cooking, guided tours of archaeological sites related to the wheat and cereals route in ancient Rome, exhibitions, themed menus in Egyptian restaurants, and much more.
A strong focus was placed on sustainability and low environmental impact. Partners and the public were invited to adopt eco-friendly behaviors in transportation choices, materials use, and recycling. Special thanks were given to Minimo Impatto for their collaboration in supporting sustainable practices.
Finally, gratitude was expressed to all institutions and organizations that contributed to the first edition of Cerealia, whether by granting patronage or supporting the event with content and/or services.
ALL PAST EDITIONS
