Marche Day: Picchio d'Oro to Benedetta Rossi and President's Award to Simone Vagnozzi.

They need no introduction the people from Marche who will be awarded this year during the Giornata delle Marche at the Teatro della Fortuna in Fano next December 11th at 16.30 pm. The Golden Woodpecker, decided by the special Council Commission established by law and composed of 5 regional councilors appointed by the Council, will go to Benedetta Rossi, the most famous and beloved food blogger in Italy; the President's Award will instead be assigned to coach Simone Vagnozzi who in recent years has contributed to the phenomenal rise of tennis player Jannik Sinner, currently number 1 in the world.

There will also be a show in the hall the delegation from the Marche region of Coni and Cip (Italian Paralympic Committee) that participated in the Paris Olympic Games, the largest ever. All members, athletes, technicians and companions will receive special recognition for their sporting commitment. The invitation to the Giornata delle Marche had been extended to them by President Acquaroli already this summer during the press conference before leaving for the Paris Games.

Benedetta Rossi is an Italian food blogger, writer and presenter born in Porto San Giorgio, in the Marche region. She is known to the general public for her authentic and familiar style, which has won over millions of cooking enthusiasts thanks to her simple and accessible recipes.

Benedetta began her career sharing recipes on her blog “Fatto in casa da Benedetta”, launched in 2011, which quickly became one of the most followed in Italy. Thanks to her online success, she has expanded her presence on social media and YouTube, where her cooking videos are among the most viewed. In 2016, she published her first cookbook, followed by other bestsellers that have consolidated her popularity in the publishing world as well. Since 2018, she has been the protagonist of a television program on Food Network, where she continues to share practical and tasty recipes, inspired by Italian tradition and home cooking. Benedetta lives in the Marche countryside with her husband Marco Gentili, who supports her in her activities. Her philosophy is based on the importance of simplicity, authenticity linked to the territory and conviviality in the kitchen, values ​​that have made her an icon for many Italian families.

Simone Vagnozzi is a former professional tennis player and current Italian coach, known for being the coach of the talent Jannik Sinner. Born in Ascoli Piceno, in the Marche region, Vagnozzi had a playing career mainly concentrated on the Challenger circuit, reaching his best ATP singles ranking of number 161 in 2011. After retiring from tennis, Vagnozzi devoted himself to a coaching career, where he demonstrated great competence and strategic ability. He worked with several Italian tennis players, including Stefano Travaglia and Marco Cecchinato, contributing to their growth and significant successes on the ATP circuit.

In 2022 he was chosen to join the coaching staff of Jannik Sinner, one of the most promising young Italian tennis players. Together with Darren Cahill, Vagnozzi works to refine Sinner's game, combining tactical and mental preparation to compete at the highest levels of world tennis. After Sinner's great successes in the 2023 season, Vagnozzi and Cahill both won the ATP "Coach of the Year" award at the end of the year. He is appreciated for his methodical approach and his ability to establish relationships of trust with his athletes, making him a point of reference in the Italian tennis scene.