(27 April 2017) On 27 and 28 May the Italian Cultural Institute of Madrid presents the Italian poet, translator and editor, Marco Giovenale and the poet and founder of the publishing house Sartoria Utopia, Francesca Genti. The 12th edition of "Poetas" was organised by Arrebato Libros and Matadero Madrid, and is also an integral part of the Feria del Libro de Madrid, also taking place this year. Francesca Genti published the collection of poems "Bimba Urbana" (Urban Girl) (Mazzoli, Delfini Prize, 2001), "Il vero amor non ha le nocciole" (True Love Does Not contain Hazelnuts) (Meridiano Zero, 2004), "Poesi d'amore per ragazze kamikaze" (Love Poems for Kamikaze Girls) (Purple Press, 2009), "L'arancione mi ha salvato dalla malinconia" (The orange saved me from melancholy) (Sartoria Utopia, 2014); the short story collection "Il cuore delle stelle" (The Heart of the Stars) (Coniglio Editore, 2007); and the novel "La Febbre" (Fever) (Castelvecchi, 2011). In 2012 Genti founded the publishing house "Sartoria Utopia" with Manuela Dago. Marco Giovenale works as an independent editor and translator. Among his poetry books are: "Shelter" (Donzelli, 2010), "In rebus" (Zone, 2012), "Delvaux" (Odeipus, 2013), "Maniera nera" (Black manner) (Aragno, 2015), and "Strettoie" (Bottleneck) (Arcipelago Itaca, 2017) , and he published "Anachromisms" in prose and in English (Ahsahta Press, 2014). His texts are anthologised in "Parola plurale" (Plural Word) (Sossella, 2005), "Nono quaderno di poesia contemporanea" (Ninth contemporary poetry journal) (Marcos y Marcos, 2007), "Poesia degli anni Zero" (Poetry of the Zero years) (Ponte Sisto, 2011), "New Objectivists" (Loffredo, 2013). (Red)

A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY

The magnificent Madrid building that houses the Italian Cultural Institute - commonly referred to as the Palacio de Abrantes - is located in the historic center of the capital, in a small area called "Madrid of the Habsburgs", which refers to the small ancient town which served as the capital for the whole duration of the Habsburg dynasty, from Charles V until the advent of the Bourbons at the beginning of the eighteenth century. In its immediate vicinity is the Royal Palace, while in front is the Almudena Cathedral. The Abrantes Palace dates back further to Madrid's ancient history. It rests on one of the city's perimeter walls on the north side of the citadel founded in the 9th century A.D. by Arabs - the Magerit Fortress.