In Barletta, on Puglia's Adriatic coast, a different kind of evening is taking shape: not a concert or a festival, but a conversation. Adolescenza, parliamone ("Adolescence, let's talk about it") brings psychologist and psychotherapist Damiano Rizzi face to face with high school students. It is the closing event of an awareness project.
A Stage for Honest Questions
Some topics are hard to raise at home or in the classroom. This meeting is designed to make them easier to say out loud.
Damiano Rizzi, author of the book that gives the event its name, speaks as a professional who works with these themes. The tone is direct and open, built around dialogue rather than a lecture.
The Voice Guiding the Conversation
Keeping the exchange lively is journalist Floriana Tolve, who moderates the meeting. A good moderator turns a presentation into a real back-and-forth.
Her role is to connect the author's expertise with what young people actually want to ask. Expect a conversation, not a monologue.
What to Expect in the Room
The event is aimed first of all at students of the scuole superiori, so the atmosphere should feel closer to a shared discussion than a formal book launch. Parents, teachers and anyone who works with teenagers will also find plenty to take home.
- A book as a starting point for talking about adolescence
- Space for dialogue between a psychotherapist and young listeners
- A moderated format that keeps the discussion focused and accessible
- A closing moment for a project built around awareness
Making an Afternoon of Barletta
Barletta rewards those who arrive early or stay on. A stroll through the old town leads to the Castello Svevo and the Cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore.
Nearby stands the Colosso, the towering bronze statue that is one of the city's best-known symbols. The seafront promenade is a good place to decompress afterwards and talk over what you heard.
Tips Before You Go
Since the event is part of a school-oriented project, check the latest details on the organisers' social channels before heading out. If you are bringing a teenager, consider leaving time afterwards for a chat of your own.
Bringing a notebook is not a bad idea. Conversations like this tend to leave you with questions worth writing down.