A double festival in the Marche to celebrate “Stupor Mundi”

Ancona and Jesi are preparing to become the stage of the first edition of a festival dedicated to Frederick II of Swabia with two stages on the themes of peace and sharing. The enlightened sovereign destined to become the regent of a great kingdom in the center of the Mediterranean, an emblem of governability through peace and culture, was born right in the Marche region, in Jesi. The crusade of peace (1228-1229) goes down in history because it underlines the avoidability of war and the importance of diplomatic agreements thanks to a network of political, interreligious, interethnic and intercultural relationships for which Frederick II was a point of reference and meeting point . “Stupor Mundi”, in these times of wars and fear, therefore celebrates the extraordinary figure of Frederick II to reflect on how the culture of sharing, the representation of the enemy, diplomatic strategies can help us manage conflicts without weapons.

The first edition of the Federico II Stupor Mundi Festival falls on the eighth centenary of the foundation of the first state university in 1224 in Naples, precisely by Frederick of Swabia to guarantee everyone access to true nobility, which is that of soul and which comes from study, dedication and knowledge. The public will thus be invited to attend history lessons conducted by the country’s most eminent scholars. Starting from Franco Cardinia point of reference for European medievalists and other teachers of recognized value including Agostino Paravicini Bagliani, Umberto Longo, Marina Montesano, Ortensio Zecchino, Amedeo Feniello, Alessandro Vanoli, Francesco Panarelli, Laura Minervini, Annick Peters-Custot, Oleg Voskoboynikov, Giuseppe Perta, Antonio Musarra, Giancarlo Lacerenza, Giuseppe Mandalà, Emmanuele Francesco Maria Emanuele, Francesco Pirani, Andrea Mazzucchi, Pietro Colletta, Stefano D’Ovidio, Francesco Cotticelli, Nicoletta Rozza, Stefano Rapisarda, Luisa Derosa and Teofilo De Angelis.

It starts in Ancona, from 11 to 14 April, with a series of meetings on the theme Seeking peace and surprising the world. Starting from the “peace crusade”, the meetings aim to invite reflection on an event which, although distant in time, can help us understand our present made up of strong tensions and clashes between religions and civilisations. Remembering the meeting between Frederick II and the Sultan of Egypt and their diplomatic strength can provide us with a secular cultural and political model useful for contemporary times. At the Mole Vanviteliana there will be alternating meetings on the territory, on cultural models, food and life in the Holy Land at the time of Frederick II.

The second part of the festival will take place in Jesi between 9 and 11 May and will have as its theme Sharing knowledge between East and West. Lessons, educational workshops and interventions, which will be held at the Hotel Federico II, on art, culture and the legacy of a heritage to be rediscovered, the sharing of knowledge between East and West and the dialogue between the sciences. Entrance to the Festival Federico II – Stupor Mundi (Ancona, 11 – 14 April 2024) and (Jesi, 9-11 May 2024) is free but a request is made online booking.