Books and Wine under the Castle Stars

A literary toast by the Tyrrhenian Sea

Books and Wine under the Castle Stars is the festival that transforms the Castle of Santa Severa, on the northern coast of the province of Rome, into an open-air literary salon every summer. The formula is as simple as it is successful: on Sundays, in the late afternoon or at dusk, an author presents their book in conversation with the public; at the end of the meeting, a glass of Lazio wine accompanies the conversation, with guided tastings that tell the story of the territory as much as the pages just read.

The Castle of Santa Severa, a unique stage

The festival takes place within the Castle of Santa Severa, a medieval fortress standing directly on the beach, on the site of the ancient Etruscan city of Pyrgi, along the Via Aurelia. The castle, owned by the Lazio Region and managed by LAZIOcrea, is now a cultural hub open all year round, featuring museums, a hostel, and a busy schedule of events. Attending a literary presentation within the crenellated walls, with the sound of the sea in the background and the starry sky above the courtyard, is an experience that is worth the trip alone.

How the festival works

Each event is hosted by journalist Francesca Lazzeri and alternates between presentations, readings, and dialogue with the author. Following this, the tasting of Lazio wines—curated in various editions by organizations such as Arsial and UNPLI Lazio—brings regional grape varieties and wineries into the glass, from the Etruscan-Roman coast to the hills. The meetings are free with mandatory reservation on Eventbrite, and the most anticipated dates regularly sell out days in advance.

A formula that grows year by year

Born in 2023 as a series of summer meetings with tastings, the festival has grown rapidly: in 2025, the third edition offered nine Sunday appointments between July and August, while the fourth edition in 2026 extended from May to the end of August, with a debut that was already sold out. The guests include novelists, crime writers, poets, and essayists, with a particular focus on voices from the Lazio and Roman literary scene.

In the heart of the Lazio coast

Books and Wine is part of the 'Experience the Castle of Santa Severa' program, promoted by the Lazio Region and organized by LAZIOcrea with the artistic direction of ATCL – Multidisciplinary Circuit of Lazio, in collaboration with the Municipality of Santa Marinella. The festival is also an excellent opportunity to discover Santa Severa and its village, the Museum of the Sea and Ancient Navigation, and the beaches of the coast north of Rome: many spectators arrive in the afternoon, enjoy a swim, and stay for the evening meeting.