'Maratea and the Monk Seal' is a tale to promote marine culture and ocean conservation.
The novel offers a fascinating journey through the underwater kingdom, with an important moral message about the harmony and protection of the marine ecosystem. The presentation will be held at the Chamber of Deputies and will support the candidacy of Maratea as “Capital of Culture 2026”.
Author and philanthropist Dario Vassallo, president of the “Angelo Vassallo Sindaco Pescatore” Foundation, enthusiastically announces his new book “Maratea e La Foca Monaca” (Iod Edizioni). This enchanting tale, suitable for all ages, combines ancient wisdom and timeless adventure, taking readers on a breathtaking journey through the marine kingdom.
After the success of “Capaci: Rocco and the Kingdom of the Octopus”, Dario Vassallo returns to the fairy tale genre to raise awareness about the protection of the oceans. The story revolves around Biagio, the old fisherman from Maratea, who embarks on an epic journey with his grandson to reveal an important secret related to marine beings. Through extraordinary encounters and life lessons taught by Biagio, the book conveys the importance of preserving marine habitats and the delicate balance that regulates life on our planet.
The narrative evolves into an “epic tale”, a succession of underwater wonders that represent metaphors of personal growth and responsibility towards the sea and its ecosystem. The story told by Dario Vassallo invites you to an exciting journey into the seabed, offering food for thought on the relationship between man and the sea, and on the importance of preserving this vital bond for the planet and for future generations.
An "epic fairy tale": this is how Dario Vassallo defines it. A wandering through the submerged wonders, between amazement and changes of scene, in which each encounter becomes a metaphor for personal growth, emancipation, the achievement of autonomy and wisdom, but also a warning to young people: woe betide you if you betray the sea, the source of life, of amazement, of narratives, of sailing peoples, of sustenance and economy.
“I wrote this tale as a gesture of love towards Maratea, its sea and its beauties – says Dario Vassallo, letting the inspiration that guided the writing shine through – It is one of the few places where the soul finds peace. I have been lucky enough to travel and get to know many places in the world, but I have only found a place like this before 2010 in Tunisia. Maratea, however, is different, it is of infinite beauty, where the soul is calm and the mind dreams. Perhaps it is the place of dreams. And let's hope that the tale can also be auspicious and contribute to Maratea's candidacy as Capital of Culture 2026. It is a gateway to the Mediterranean that opens towards the interior of Basilicata, connecting with the rest of the country and the world. Symbol of the lands of the South and of the role of cultural crossroads of the Mezzogiorno within the Mediterranean Sea, on whose shores philosophical thought was born and today is dramatically crossed by boats of migrant peoples in search of hope and a future.
The “Angelo Vassallo Sindaco Pescatore” Foundation, committed to promoting culture and environmental conservation, actively supports Maratea’s candidacy as the Capital of Italian Culture 2026.
On the occasion of the official presentation of the book, scheduled for April 9, 2024 at the Chamber of Deputies, Dario Vassallo will be accompanied by the Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies Sergio Costa, former Minister of the Environment.
“Maratea and the Monk Seal” is not only a gripping tale, but above all a passionate plea for man and the sea to coexist in harmony, ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.
It is an invitation to return to harmony and freedom, but above all to the commitment to create a marine protected area on earth, where marine animals can return to live freely and raise their children together with the children of humans. Where the seabed can return free from nets, from plastic.
Dario Vassallo, with this story, tells the richness and freedom that come from the harmony between man and the sea: on the other hand, the disaster produced by the breaking of this peaceful bond. And he does it through the passing of the baton from grandfather to grandson, "because – says Vassallo – Only by transmitting the importance of nature, can we truly protect it."
Article published on March 1, 2024 - 12pm
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