The Calabrian journalist Manuela Fragal, 47, for years edited the socio-economic pages of various national newspapers and was a correspondent for Calabria for international periodicals dedicated to Italian communities residing in Argentina, Brazil, Germany and Peru.
He carries on the name of his land
In the course of her journalistic activity, Manuela Fragale has brought and continues to carry on the name of her land. It does so by telling its story and spreading its millenary culture; showing the most beautiful and evocative places; handing down traditions and popular legends. Through the cultural pages, with his pen, he helps to bring out the numerous hidden treasures that inhabit this land, as beautiful as it is mistreated and humiliated, too often unfairly.
Awarded the medal of the Senate of the Republic
By writing and narrating, Manuela Fragale not only allowed her loyal readers, especially those who emigrated abroad, to feel closer to their places of origin but, with in-depth studies conducted in the area, she created several cognitive reportage, aimed at making people discover or rediscover, but also enhance, ancient villages, castles, monuments. "For having been able to disseminate events, stories, values of the country and Calabria through the socio-economic and cultural pages, helping to strengthen the ties between the Italian communities residing abroad and their places of origin", Manuela - so we read in the motivation of the prize - received, in 2018, the medal of the Senate of the Republic.
Reportage and memories
In April of this year, the journalist was a guest of the "Digital Travel Festival - Calabrie, Italy, World", promoted by the Facebook group “The sense of time, the value of a place. Cosenza ". Here he presented a video entitled "Reportage and memories", relating to the work he has reserved for the Italo-Argentine community.
Poetry and places as a source of inspiration
Manuela Fragale, a degree in Economic and Social Sciences from the University of Calabria, specializes in Marketing, Economic Journalism and Institutional and Corporate Communication. He has worked on national and international collaborations in the Information and Communication sectors, receiving career awards. She is also the author of essays focusing on brand communication. He has published some short stories and poetic syllogs "Microcosms", of 2013, and "Skin of the Sea", from 2016. In the interview that follows, he talks about his places of the heart and the intimate bond that binds them to his soul. A bond so intense that it becomes poetry.
Doctor Fragale, how much satisfaction does it give you to tell the story, culture and places of your land?
"Helping to recover history and stories, ancient traditions, identity elements, emotional ties between people and places of origin, telling the different facets of my land to those who know little about it or have listened to nostalgic narratives, is certainly a source of great satisfaction . Equally, it is a source of satisfaction to be able to grasp the changes that have taken place over time and describe contemporary Calabria ».
Is there a place in Calabria that you particularly love?
"Two places, in truth, are very dear to me: Roseto Capo Spulico and Sangineto, both in the province of Cosenza. The first on the Ionian coast, the second on the Tyrrhenian coast. In Roseto Capo Spulico, my mother's town of origin, I retrace the alleys of the historic center and find familiar places; I remember the explanations that my grandfather emphasized with the unmistakable Alto Ionian cadence. There it is the past - of the place and of my family - that prevails.
Sangineto, from the acquired belonging, welcomed me when I was a child. In any season he offered me regenerating breaks in an enviable natural environment: the sea, the mountains, a karst lake, the river. Recently, close to the historic center, the "Path of dreams" was inaugurated, leading to a spring of water that emerges from the earth, and to a natural waterfall inside an enchanting cave ».
Which do you think are absolutely worth visiting?
«Calabria is rich in natural beauty and preserves a considerable historical-artistic heritage. It is difficult to suggest visiting some of the many places worthy of attention. Over all, I would suggest cirella. A single name to identify an island embellished by a tower, a bay protected by a cliff, a hill dotted with medieval ruins. A name that refers to stories and legends on the Tyrrhenian coast of Cosenza. I would also recommend a walk in the historic center of Laino Castello, inserted among the authentic villages of Italy, in the Pollino National Park and surrounded by the Lao river, a fascinating ghost village abandoned following the 1982 earthquake ».
By writing and narrating, she contributed to strengthening the ties between the Italian communities abroad and their places of origin, to the point of being awarded the medal of the Senate of the Republic. What emotions did receiving this important commendation give you?
«The medal of the Senate of the Republic is the recognition of years of work at an international level. It was natural to feel pride, to consider it as an emblem of an achievement and, at the same time, as an exhortation to commit myself with renewed enthusiasm and a growing sense of responsibility ».
She is also attentive to Calabrian culture and traditions. Thinking about the latter, which one particularly fascinates you?
«The thought goes immediately to cultural anthropology, to the coexistence of the sacred and the profane, of religion and superstition. Calabria has ancient apotropaic rituals, a priceless cultural heritage that risks not being handed down to the new generations. What fascinates me - forgive me for the pun - is, in particular, the ritual of "Sfascino": catharsis through whispered prayers, signs of the cross, water and salt, water and oil, formulas secretly taught on the magical night of Christmas. Another tradition that I consider interesting, widespread along the Calabrian coasts, is the practice of "Cutting the tornadoes", normally reserved for men, only in some villages it is carried out by women. It can be summarized as follows: when you see a whirlwind on the horizon that approaches inhabited places or boats at sea, and which can cause damage to people and things, a particular ritual is performed thanks to which the vortice loses the uniqueness of the shape as if, in fact, it was cut. Consequently, the whirlwind also loses its dangerousness ».
Let's talk about the poet Manuela Fragale. What is the link between places and poetry?
«Sometimes places inspire verses, other times they are protagonists: the syllogs“ Microcosms ”and“ Pelle di Mare ”confirm this. As I said, Sangineto is one of the places most dear to me: well, many of my poems were born there, written with ink and salt on small sheets of paper. The same cover photograph of "Pelle di Mare" portrays my shadow projected on a bay of Sangineto, between sand and sea foam. In this regard, I like to remember that, during a cultural event, they introduced me as "The poetess of the stones, clearings and ravines of a picturesque Mediterranean who, dominated by forest nymphs and fragrant roots, sad princesses and fearless brigands, it would amuse the nostalgic afternoons of the lovers of that Grand Tour, a lost tradition that needs to be recovered ”».
(Photo: Manuela Fragale, photographic archive)
