LE GRAZIELLE

The first time I saw a Graziella dressed in the traditional dress I immediately adored her and I started to read up on the history of this particular party and her dress. La Graziella is a competition that takes place on the small island of Procida from 1939 until today to elect the girl who has the characteristics most similar to the protagonist of the homonymous novel by Alphonse de Lamartine. I discovered that being a Graziella requires a very particular dressing, in fact they wear them during the final evening, a splendid antique dress inspired by the dress of the Procidane shipowners that is guarded by a few families on the island and made with silk, gold embroidery, borders with abstract decorations and a wonderful oriental-cut coat. In addition to the dress, the Grazielle wrap their hair in colored scarves and complete the look with coral necklaces and earrings. That of Graziella is a tradition full of charm and history that has its roots in the novel by Alphonse Lamartine and makes the island of Procida even more unique and special, a worthy capital of Italian culture.