Wanna Marchi and her daughter Stefania Nobile received the P.I.C. – Premio Internazionale della Cultura on September 23, 2026, inside the Sala della Protomoteca at Rome’s Campidoglio, sparking numerous polemics on social media over the recipients’ judicial pasts and the use of an institutional venue for a private event.
Campidoglio Ceremony Sparks Public and Institutional Outrage
The private event, held to honor literature and social engagement, brought more than 200 guests to the historic municipal building. The gathering marked the second edition of the P.I.C. – Premio Internazionale della Cultura, an initiative ideated by publisher Alessandro Gian Maria Ferri and president Silvestro Mucillo. Despite the prestigious venue, the awards carried no official endorsement from Roma Capitale.
Social media platforms quickly flooded with disbelief and criticism. One user wrote on X that the event must be a hoax, while others questioned the standards of Italian culture and the decision of institutions to host such figures. Stefania Nobile dismissed the backlash online with the phrase, “Fattene una ragione.”
Book Awards for Mother and Daughter
Stefania Nobile accepted the culture prize for her book Vendere… cara la pelle, released in 2026, which details her personal history and her relationship with her mother. In social media footage captured before the ceremony, Nobile stated that she comes from a family of sellers and proudly calls herself the daughter of number one.
Wanna Marchi received a separate recognition for her 2026 recipe book, La verità è che io cucino così. Qui non si pesa niente: l’unica misura è l’amore. Reflecting on the venue change from her past, Marchi remarked on social media that life is strange, moving from a prison cell to the Campidoglio to receive applause and embraces, adding that the municipal building is not for everyone.
Councilman Denies Knowledge of Attendees
City officials moved to distance themselves from the ceremony as controversy grew. City councillor and Jubilee commission president Dario Nanni welcomed guests to the municipal room, but later expressed sharp embarrassment. Nanni stated he did not know Wanna Marchi and her daughter would be present, noting that if he had known, he would not have participated. He explained that he was called by organizers solely for a generic institutional greeting and was absent when the honord speakers took the floor.
The Campidoglio allows outside groups to rent the Sala della Protomoteca, and applicants must submit detailed descriptions of event content, speakers, and schedules alongside required administrative fees. The approval process for private rentals does not equate to an official municipal honor.
Judicial History of Wanna Marchi and Stefania Nobile
The public outcry largely stemmed from the criminal records of both women. Mother and daughter gained notoriety through televendita scams involving fraudulent weight-loss remedies and esotericism services. On March 4, 2009, the Corte di Cassazione handed down definitive sentences for criminal association aimed at fraud. Wanna Marchi received 9 years and 6 months of imprisonment, while Stefania Nobile was sentenced to 9 years, 4 months, and 9 days.
Both women completed their prison sentences and alternative custody terms, with Nobile finishing her penalties in October 2013 and Marchi concluding her sentence in November 2015 after receiving early release under social service provisions. More recently, Nobile faced additional legal scrutiny in 2025 regarding an investigation into Milan’s Gintoneria di Davide, resulting in a three-year sentence in October 2025 served through probation with social services.
Did you know? The Sala della Protomoteca is available for private rentals through a formal municipal application process that requires submission of event details and payment of administrative tariffs, independent of official city honors.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Campidoglio Event
Who organized the International Culture Award event in Rome?
The event was a private initiative organized by publisher Alessandro Gian Maria Ferri alongside president Silvestro Mucillo, and it was not conferred or sponsored by Roma Capitale.
What books earned Wanna Marchi and Stefania Nobile their awards?
Stefania Nobile was recognized for her autobiographical book Vendere… cara la pelle, while Wanna Marchi received an award for her recipe book La verità è che io cucino così. Qui non si pesa niente: l’unica misura è l’amore.
What was the reaction of Rome city officials to the ceremony?
City councillor Dario Nanni stated that he was unaware of the attendees and attended only to provide a brief institutional greeting on behalf of the organizers, distancing himself from the event after learning who was honored.
What were the previous criminal convictions of Marchi and Nobile?
The Corte di Cassazione sentenced both women in March 2009 to over nine years in prison for criminal association aimed at fraud stemming from their televendor businesses.
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