"Sciolto e legato, accompagnato e solo" : solitudine, alienazione e sublimità in Campanella

This article examines the paradoxical nature of Campanella's solitude, demonstrating how he transformed isolation into a powerful tool for philosophical inquiry and literary creation. The discussion situates his introspective engagement with solitude within the context of his imprisonment, analysing how he reconciled physical confinement with interior freedom. The article shows how, in Campanella's view, the truly wise person channels solitude whether voluntary or forced into creative action as an affirmation of liberty. Additionally, solitude is examined in relation to the communitarian life depicted in The City of the Sun. Through analysis of his poetry, the article illuminates the dynamism of the solitary soul, with particular attention to themes of otherness and cognitive alienation. Autobiographical and philosophical perspectives are integrated to present a complex yet coherent portrait of Campanella's experience and account of solitude. [Publisher's text]