In the quiet elegance of Poggiardo's historic quarter, Palazzo della Cultura opens its doors for an evening that bridges science, storytelling, and the deeply Italian conviction that what we eat shapes who we are. Author and science journalist Eliana Liotta takes center stage to present La mente radiosa, a fascinating exploration of how daily choices around food and lifestyle ripple through memory, focus, and emotional well-being. In conversation with Tiziana Micello, the event unfolds as both an intellectual journey and a personal dialogue, inviting listeners to rethink the relationship between plate and mind.
Where Science Meets the Senses
Liotta's work doesn't ask readers to memorize clinical studies or dietary dogma. Instead, she weaves neuroscience, nutrition research, and lived experience into a narrative that feels as accessible as a kitchen-table conversation. The book investigates which foods nourish cognitive clarity, which habits dull concentration, and how small shifts can brighten mood over time. It's a theme that resonates in a region where the table has always been a place of care, where ingredients are chosen with intention, and meals are never rushed.
The presentation format itself encourages questions, reflections, and the kind of open exchange that makes a book event feel less like a lecture and more like a shared discovery. Expect laughter, aha moments, and the occasional culinary tangent—this is Puglia, after all.
Why Poggiardo Offers the Perfect Setting
Palazzo della Cultura stands as one of Poggiardo's most graceful landmarks, a space that has hosted generations of cultural gatherings, exhibitions, and community conversations. The town itself sits in the lower Adriatic countryside, where olive groves and limestone walls frame the pace of life. It's a place where intellectuals, families, and curious travelers alike can gather without pretense, drawn by the warmth of ideas rather than flashy spectacle.
- Intimate atmosphere — the venue's modest scale fosters genuine dialogue between speaker and audience
- Free entry — open to anyone curious about the link between food, brain health, and daily vitality
- Accessible conversation — Liotta's approachable style suits newcomers to nutrition science as well as seasoned wellness enthusiasts
- Post-event exploration — Poggiardo's historic center is perfect for a twilight stroll after the talk
Making the Most of Your Evening
Plan to arrive a few minutes early to choose a comfortable seat and soak in the palazzo's understated architecture. After the presentation, consider wandering through Poggiardo's narrow streets, where small bars serve caffè and pasticciotti that embody the very principles Liotta discusses—simple ingredients, thoughtful preparation, and pleasure without excess. If you're exploring the wider area, the town sits just a short drive from the coast and the Otranto-Santa Cesarea thermal route, making it easy to pair an evening of ideas with a day of sea and stone.
Whether you're traveling solo, with a partner, or in a small group, the event offers a quiet kind of enrichment—one that lingers long after the final question is answered and the lights dim.