Ten days dedicated to literature, memory, history, and identity. Mandas is preparing to host the 18th edition of the DH Lawrence International Travel Literature Festival, a well-established event in the town's cultural calendar. This year, the festival is dedicated to the theme "Identity and Future, Between History and Current Events." Organized by the Municipality and the Pro Loco of Mandas, in collaboration with ARST and the Carta Bianca Association, the event will transform the train station and the historic carriages of the Trenino Verde into places of encounter and discussion. Travel, the underlying theme of the entire festival, will be explored through books, testimonies, debates, films, and initiatives dedicated to different generations.
The event kicks off on Friday, September 25th, at the train station, with a day dedicated to raising awareness. At 5:00 pm, Paolo Montaldo's "H&J," a book that tells the story of Henry, a boy with autism, will be presented. Tiziana Scotto will be in conversation with the author. At 6:00 pm, "The Gentle Revolution: Towards the Leadership of Kindness" by Ugo Cappellacci will be presented, in conversation with Riccardo Trentin, president of the Sardinian Diabetes Network and an inclusion teacher. Book sales will contribute to raising funds for type 1 diabetes research. On Saturday, September 26th, the festival will kick off with "Journey through News and Politics." At 10:30 am, on Viale Renato Raccis, behind the station, "Ruote nella storia 2026 – La via dell'argento," a regularity rally organized by the Automobile Club Cagliari, will take place. At 6:00 pm, "Il principe della Repubblica" by Roberto Deriu will be presented in the station's conference room. The author will converse with Francesco Agus, Michele Ciusa, and Stefano Tunis, following an introduction by curator Carlo Sanna.
Sunday, September 27th, will be a particularly moving day, dedicated to the imaginary encounter between two great protagonists of Sardinian literature: DH Lawrence and Grazia Deledda. At 8:45 a.m., the Trenino Verde (Little Green Train) will depart from Mandas station for Laconi, a train that recalls Lawrence's journey to the island. At 10:30 a.m., in the 1913 Bauchiero carriage, Monica Tronci Pau will present "In the Blue of My Short Stories – Grazia Deledda Tells Her Story." At 11:30 a.m., Sandro Dessì will present the talk "DH Lawrence Meets Grazia Deledda." Monday, September 28th will be dedicated to the topic of violence against women. At 5:00 p.m., Claudia Sarritzu will present "The Patriarchy in the New World Order," and at 6:00 p.m., Jenny Carboni's "I Wish It Were Always Spring." This will be followed by an exclusive live premiere of the song "Il tempo muto," performed by Susanna Congiu. The theme of history will be the focus on Tuesday, September 29th. At 5:00 pm, Fausto Orrù will present "The Guardians of Nurakea" to the younger audience. At 6:00 pm, Umberto Oppus will present "The Towns of the Duchy of Mandas," a report on Viceroy Hallot Des Hayes' visit to the Kingdom, in conversation with Enrico Trogu, director of the State Archives of Cagliari. The 2026 Mandas Award will be presented at the end of the event.
Wednesday, September 30th will be the turn of "Between Chronicle and Sensibility," with the presentation of Davide Piras's Femmenella at 5 pm and of Tore Quartu's Innocenza in Catena at 6 pm, who will be in conversation with Mayor Oppus. The evening will conclude with the presentation of the 2026 Città di Mandas Award. On Thursday, October 1st, the spotlight will be on the value of identity. At 5 pm, Gianluca Scroccu will present his book dedicated to Sandro Pertini. At 7 pm, at the Locanda Lawrence in the train station, the film Disamistade by Gianfranco Cabiddu, the festival's special guest, will be screened. Friday, October 2nd will be dedicated to grandparents, guardians of memory and tradition. A passing of the baton between generations that the festival also entrusts to schoolchildren. At 11 am and 12 pm, Antonangelo Liori will meet with preschool and elementary school students, respectively, to present Contigheddos po argo - Grandfather's Tales for His Grandson. At 5:00 PM, Liori and Francesco Pintore will present "God Is a Shepherd." At 6:00 PM, Dante Tangianu's "Launeddas" will be presented, with Roberto Tangianu and Carlo Crisponi, and a presentation by Giuliano Marongiu. Finally, at 7:00 PM, the ARST documentary about the Little Green Train will be presented.
On Saturday, October 3rd, with "Between Past and Future," Emanuele Cioglia will present Lotta Amata, in conversation with writer Rosanna Copez. The event will conclude on Sunday, October 4th, with "Journeying Between Identity and Music." At 8:50 a.m., the Trenino Verde will depart Mandas station for Laconi. This comprehensive program will bring together major cultural figures—writers, journalists, directors, and scholars—as well as schools, associations, and the local community.
