In the heart of Altamura, the Puglia town famous for its golden bread and its honey-coloured stone, a different kind of gathering is taking shape. Chi c'è dietro lo schermo ("Who is behind the screen") is a conference that brings the digital world into a very real room. Here, people sit face to face to talk about what happens when we are face to face with a phone.
A Question Worth Asking Out Loud
Every one of us spends hours looking at a screen. Few of us stop to wonder who or what is looking back.
The title of this event says it all. It invites the audience to look past the profile picture, the message and the notification, and to think about the people, intentions and emotions behind them.
Two Perspectives, One Conversation
What makes this conference interesting is the mix of voices on stage. Speakers come from the postal police, the specialised unit that deals with crimes committed online, and from the world of psychology and psychotherapy.
One side knows what happens when things go wrong on the web. The other understands why we behave as we do, and how digital life shapes our emotions and relationships.
- Concrete insight from those who work every day on online risks
- A psychological reading of how screens affect our moods and habits
- Room for questions, because this topic touches every household
- A shared language between institutions, experts and citizens
An Evening Made for Sharing
Events like this one work best when the audience joins in. Bring your doubts, your own stories and the questions you have never quite dared to ask.
The format suits groups well. A parents' circle, a group of colleagues or friends could attend together and keep talking long after the final remarks.
Combine It with Altamura's Slow Charm
Arrive a little early and let the town set the pace. Wander the narrow lanes of the old quarter, with their claustri (small vaulted courtyards), and pause at the cathedral with its elegant Romanesque-Gothic portal.
If you have time, pick up a warm piece of pane di Altamura from a local bakery. It is the best possible way to step away from the screen for a moment.
For a longer visit, the surrounding Alta Murgia landscape of dry-stone walls, open pastures and wide skies is a good place to unplug before or after the talks.
Why It Matters Now
Conferences on digital awareness are no longer a niche. They respond to something we all feel: technology is part of daily life, and understanding it is a form of self-care.
Leaving this event, you may well look at your own screen a little differently. That alone makes it a worthwhile stop on a visit to Altamura.