Lorenzo Cipriani, a scholar who seamlessly blends Science and the Humanities, will present his new book Mare Nostrum (Giunti) at GO, in a discussion with Raffaele Palumbo. 

The Book:

In this passionate and multifaceted book, Cipriani narrates his sailing journey along the Mediterranean routes of the peoples who founded Western civilization, docking in the ports of lands and islands that were central to the ancient world. The itinerary spans from Italy to Greece, reaching Istanbul, the Aegean islands, and the Turkish coast, then returning home via Crete, Malta, Sicily, Sardinia, and the Balearic Islands. The Greeks, Etruscans, Phoenicians, Romans, Genoese, Venetians, Pisans, Amalfitans, Turks, Byzantines, Ottomans, and Sardinians are among the peoples who navigated the Mare Nostrum. Cipriani engages in a dialogue with their fascinating histories, focuses on sometimes eccentric characters, recounts slightly strange legends, and evokes myths that are not always edifying. Art and storytelling, along with poetry and music, intertwine in this book, offering not just an engaging guide for future travels but above all an immersive experience in Nature, which always nurtures and teaches. Throughout his journey, Cipriani was accompanied by four mullets, purchased in each port for high-level scientific research on the presence of microplastics in their guts, which were then cooked for the palate of the Italian and foreign guests who boarded Milanto. This book is thus a disenchanted yet energizing vademecum aimed at a soul seeking to rediscover itself amid the mystifications of contemporary society.

The Author:

Lorenzo Cipriani (born 1971) is an art historian, musician, writer, and storyteller. As a skipper, he sails the world's seas, collaborating with the Department of Biology at the University of Florence on scientific research about microplastics. He is a designer and cultural manager for various public and private institutions. He created Gli Spaesati, a podcast series about artworks dispersed in major museums around the world. Among his recent books are Pistoia. Arte-Storia-Cultura (Gli Ori 2019) and Il respiro dell’oceano. Giro del mondo in barca a vela ai tempi del covid (I libri di Mompracem 2022). He is also a photographer, with Art Odyssey (Metilene) about his Mediterranean journey forthcoming.