Books in the Castle
A day of books, guided tours, and wines from the Piacenza hills at Agazzano Castle
About Books in the Castle
Books in the Castle, where reading meets wine
Books in the Castle is a wine and culture festival that animates the Agazzano Castle every spring, in the Municipality of Agazzano, in the province of Piacenza (Emilia-Romagna). The event, promoted by the publishing house Oligo Editore, offers an original format that intertwines a passion for books with the discovery of wines from the Piacenza hills, in one of the most fascinating historical residences in the area.
A format that combines culture and territory
The festival unfolds over a single day packed with events: book presentations with authors, literary dialogues, guided tours of the castle rooms and gardens, and tastings of wines produced in the surrounding hills. The reasonably priced entrance ticket includes a glass of local wine and a book selected by the staff, as well as access to all the talks and a guided tour of the manor.
Agazzano Castle
The heart of the event is the Agazzano Castle, located on Via del Castello, a fortress of medieval origin surrounded by a park and vineyards, overlooking the gentle hills of the Val Luretta. Its historical atmosphere provides the ideal backdrop for an event that aims to bring the public closer to reading in a relaxed and convivial setting, far from the more traditional formats of book fairs.
Authors and talks
Each edition features a rotation of writers and guests from the Oligo Editore catalog and other partner publishing houses, with presentations ranging from fiction to crime novels, from poetry to current affairs and historical topics. The talks are spread throughout the day and alternate with guided tours of the castle, allowing visitors to freely plan their own itinerary between culture and tasting.
An event for the Piacenza hills
Now in its fifth edition, the festival has established itself as one of the most characteristic spring events for cultural wine tourism in Piacenza, celebrating the architectural heritage, wine tradition, and literary life of the Emilia region. It's an opportunity to spend a day out enjoying history, good reading, and the typical wines of the province of Piacenza.
Books in the Castle — edition 2026
Books in the Castle 2026, the fifth edition
The fifth edition of Books in the Castle was held on Sunday, April 19, 2026, at Agazzano Castle (Piacenza), from 10:40 AM to 6:00 PM. The program featured alternating book presentations, dialogues between authors, and guided tours of the castle.
Among the scheduled events: at 11:30 AM, Sandra Manzella presented the volume Fiorirà il deserto, dedicated to peace paths between Israel and Palestine; at 3:00 PM, a talk on the theme of failure and error with authors Marta Cai and Thomas Berra; at 4:00 PM, Paolo Baldini discussed with artist Armodio the thriller Hotel Rapsodia. Guided tours of the castle were scheduled at 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 2:00 PM, and 5:00 PM.
The ticket, free for under-18s, included a glass of Barbera, a book selected by the staff, access to all presentations, and a guided tour; additional tastings of the castle's wines were available.
Programme Books in the Castle 2026
- 10:30 AM / 12:30 PM / 2:00 PM / 5:00 PM – Guided tours of Agazzano Castle
- 11:30 AM – Sandra Manzella presents Fiorirà il deserto (peace between Israel and Palestine)
- 3:00 PM – Talk on failure and error with Marta Cai and Thomas Berra
- 4:00 PM – Paolo Baldini and artist Armodio discuss the thriller Hotel Rapsodia
Highlights Books in the Castle 2026
Literary presentations in the castle halls, guided tours of the medieval manor, and tastings of wines from the Piacenza hills, including the local Barbera. Ticket includes a glass of wine and a book.
Prices Books in the Castle 2026
Practical information — Books in the Castle
How to get there
Agazzano Castle is located at Via del Castello 4, Agazzano (PC), in the Piacenza hills of Val Luretta. By car, it is accessible from the A1 motorway (Piacenza Sud exit) or A21, continuing towards Val Luretta; from Piacenza, take the provincial road for about 30 minutes. The nearest train station is Piacenza, which is then connected by local buses or car.
Tickets
Admission is charged, with a reasonably priced ticket (free for under-18s) that includes a glass of wine and a book selected by the staff, as well as access to the presentations and a guided tour of the castle. Additional wine tastings are available for a fee. Booking is recommended.
Contacts
For information and bookings: Oligo Editore, phone +39 328 9705300, email [email protected].
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Where does it take place — Books in the Castle
Castello di Agazzano
Via del Castello 4, 29010 Agazzano