June 11, 1944. One week after General Clark’s troops entered Rome, the first meeting of what would later be known as the “Amici della domenica” ("Sunday Friends") took place. These meetings and the spirit that motivated them were among the initial indications of the country's rebirth and the pervasive desire among the intellectual class to influence the new Italy through a revival of cultural life. Later, these colleagues proposed founding a new literary prize with "a large and democratic jury". The Strega Prize was established on February 17, 1947, thanks to the sponsorship of Guido Alberti, and was named after the liqueur manufactured by the family firm. Italy's most significant literary award is commemorating its 80th anniversary by hosting its final evening in Rome's Piazza del Campidoglio for the first time on July 8th. This decision is highly symbolic and pays tribute to Rome, the city that witnessed the Prize's inception and development, while also reaffirming its profound connection to its cultural and civic heritage. The Prize's central position in Italian cultural history and contemporary debate is further reaffirmed by a comprehensive calendar of events that includes public meetings, exhibitions, archives, authors, and cultural institutions.