The silhouette of a large crowd appears in a drone shot, just as Francesco Gabbani begins his performance on stage in front of the Aragonese Tower.
His energy, in tandem with the music, captivates the audience, a human river that, last night, from Corso Vittorio Emanuele to Via Mare, filled the squares and streets of Porto Torres, where people from neighboring towns and beyond converged. The highlight of the Festha Manna was a resounding success in terms of audiences, attendance, and performance; over twenty thousand people attended the concert.
"Hello Porto Torres, true love is being here with you to offer peace to the whole world." The Tuscan singer-songwriter grabs his guitar and kicks off the show before the packed house, the enthusiastic crowd, and the endless applause for song after song, from "Peace & Love" to "Eternamente ora," among the most beautiful songs in his rich repertoire. "The past was one way, the future will be another," he tells the crowd. "We're a bit caught up in the baggage we carry from the past, the remorse, the regrets, the expectations and illusions about the future, and perhaps we forget to live the present more intensely. Porto Torres, let's try to do that together tonight, so that it becomes our eternally now."
Francesco Gabbani embraced the crowd with his music, and they responded, singing his hits—Occidentali's Karma and Amen, as well as "Per una vita" and "Viceversa"—notes that resonated through the kiosks, crowded venues, stalls, and sold-out restaurants, all in full swing until late at night. It was an intense, well-attended, and emotionally charged evening that didn't stop even when, in the midst of the concert—nearly two hours of music that kept everyone glued to the stage—a small technical problem arose, which the artist immediately resolved. The two-time winner of the Sanremo Festival once again convinced, confirming that in that evocative area of the city, at the foot of the tower, the symbol of Porto Torres, cultural and entertainment initiatives can be born and developed that also benefit the local economy and businesses. The City Council's Department of Culture and Entertainment expressed satisfaction and enthusiasm for the successful organization and its focus on major events to revitalize the city during the celebrations of the Holy Martyrs of Turritani, which draw visitors and participants from across the island. A particularly significant moment today will see the community of faithful participate in the procession accompanying the wooden statues to the Basilica of San Gavino.