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Faenza 'Nottambula' festival draws criticism over sexist mud‑wrestling and beauty contest
The "Nottambula" beer festival took place in Faenza from Thursday to Sunday in late July 2026. Organisers included a women's mud‑wrestling competition and a beauty pageant called "Miss Addrizza". Eight local anti‑violence groups, among them the Coordinamento dei Centri Antiviolenza dell'Emilia‑Romagna, condemned the event as sexist, saying it perpetuates patriarchal stereotypes and commodifies women's bodies, especially with minors present.
The promoter is a councillor of the Democratic Party, who rejected the accusations and said the activities have been offered for years and participants attend voluntarily. Gianluca Baccarini, Faenza's assessor for Equal Opportunities, labelled the initiatives "clearly anachronistic" and not in line with an inclusive community. Elena Zannoni, mayor of Lugo and president of the Conference of Democratic Women of Ravenna, also voiced concern and called for greater scrutiny of such public spectacles. The festival did not receive official municipal sponsorship.
Entities
Coordinamento dei Centri Antiviolenza dell'Emilia‑Romagna · Elena Zannoni · Faenza · Gianluca Baccarini · Nottambula festival
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Elena Zannoni, mayor of Lugo and president of the Conference of Democratic Women of Ravenna, expressed concern and urged critical attention to such events. emmepress.com · www.ilcorrierino.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The organiser of the festival is a councillor of the Democratic Party. emmepress.com · www.ilcorrierino.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The 'Nottambula' festival was held in Faenza from Thursday to Sunday in late July 2026. emmepress.com · www.ilcorrierino.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The festival did not have official municipal sponsorship.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The festival included a women's mud‑wrestling competition and a beauty pageant called 'Miss Addrizza'. emmepress.com · www.ilcorrierino.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Organisers said participants join voluntarily and that the activities have been proposed for years. emmepress.com · www.ilcorrierino.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Gianluca Baccarini, Faenza's assessor for Equal Opportunities, called the initiatives anachronistic and not aligned with an inclusive community. emmepress.com · www.ilcorrierino.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Eight local anti‑violence associations, including the Coordinamento dei Centri Antiviolenza dell'Emilia‑Romagna, criticised the event as sexist. emmepress.com · www.ilcorrierino.com