Since 1879, Piobbico has been home to the Club dei Brutti (“The Ugly Club”), an association whose members believe that “a person is what he’s and not what he feels like.
Today, the so-called “World Association of Ugly People” counts quite 30,000 members across 25 global chapters. Because it developed, local villagers made it their mission to remind society that inner beauty is more important than one’s physical appearance, and in 2007, Piobbico unveiled a statue dedicated to ugly people within the town’s square.
Today, it’s easy enough to become a component of the club. Senior members just must judge and rank the “ugliness” of potential members–which may range from “unspecified” to “extraordinarily ugly”.
Yet, the group’s members aren’t necessarily ugly–the club is more focused on celebrating one’s inner beauty and not worrying about what others think.
On the primary Sunday of September, people gather from everywhere over the globe to require part in Piobbico’s annual Festival of the Ugly, during which members elect the club’s president; sign on new members; and eat locally sourced truffles, polenta, and pasta.
In an exceedingly country placing such a lot of emphasis on making a bella figura (“beautiful impression”) this corner of Italy is proving that being genuine and unconventional may shine brightest.
