Pro Loco Pithecusae presents PIT

Fashion, art, theatre, and local identity come together in Forio with PIT 2026, the new international project promoted and organized by Pro Loco Pithecusae. The initiative will be officially presented during a press conference on Saturday, May 23 at 6:00 PM in the Council Chamber of the Municipality of Forio, on the island of Ischia. The meeting will be moderated by journalist Ciro Cenatiempo.

The initiative was created with the aim of transforming Ischia into a contemporary hub for cultural and territorial promotion, capable of engaging with the international scene through designer fashion, photography, performing arts, and island traditions. Already in collaboration with Spazio Culturale SC3 Milano — a cultural reality that, through Pro Loco Pithecusae, connects Ischia to Milan’s jet set — the project will culminate in the events of June 4 and 5, 2026.

The program will begin on June 4 with a day of photographic shoots involving models and creatives in some of Ischia’s most iconic and characteristic locations. That evening, at 9:00 PM in the square of the Soccorso Church in Forio, the theatrical performance “Eleonora Duse” will be staged, written by journalist Sabina Negri, directed by Lorenzo Loris, and performed by actress Silvia Siravo. Enriched by costumes designed by Luca Hettner, artistic director of the entire event, the evening will be hosted by actress Lucianna De Falco.

On June 5, again starting at 9:00 PM, the spotlight will turn to the grand PIT 2026 fashion show. Surrounded by installations from artists Mariolino Capuano, Felice Meo, and photographer Francesco Moggio, the event will feature national and international designers in a showcase that aims to reconnect Ischia with its historic ties to Mediterranean high fashion.

PIT 2026 follows in the footsteps of a tradition that made the island a symbol of international elegance during the 1950s and 1960s, when visionary figures such as Elena Wassermann and the renowned boutique Antonia Boutique on the Right Bank of Ischia’s port transformed the island into one of the Mediterranean’s most refined social salons. During those years, Ischia was spiritually connected to the French Riviera, attracting actresses, intellectuals, entrepreneurs, and members of international high society.

Elena Wassermann’s creations, inspired by the colors of the Mediterranean and island life, dressed personalities such as Ingrid Bergman, Rita Hayworth, Alida Valli, and Elsa Martinelli, helping to shape the island’s international image.

“The event we organized with Pro Loco Pithecusae, in collaboration with the Municipality of Forio and with the fundamental support of partners and sponsors, aims to create a network capable of attracting guests through a different kind of territorial promotion — one that combines art, fashion, culture, and local traditions to expand and strengthen Ischia’s international identity. I would like to thank vice president Lisa Divina, executive manager of the project, and all the members without whom this extensive work of relationships would not have been possible,” stated the president of Pro Loco Pithecusae, Dr. Graziano Petrucci.

PIT 2026 was conceived as a territorial promotion project designed to present Ischia not merely as a tourist destination, but as a cultural and creative experience capable of uniting historical memory, contemporary languages, and international relationships.