Books in the Park
Where culture meets nature: the summer literary festival in Sabaudia
About Books in the Park
A literary festival in the heart of the Circeo
«Books in the Park – Where culture meets nature» is the literary festival that has accompanied the summer in Sabaudia, in the province of Latina, Lazio, since 2015. Every year, from July to September, the Angiolo Mazzoni Documentation Center — located in the rationalist heart of the town, just a stone's throw from the main square — hosts a long series of free evening meetings with writers, historians, magistrates, journalists, and graphic novel authors, fostering a direct and informal dialogue with the public.
A project by Sabaudia Culturando
The event is conceived and promoted by the Sabaudia Culturando APS Association, which has been active in promoting the culture of the Pontine territory since 2011, with the collaboration of journalist Licia Pastore as an honorary member. The festival is sponsored by the Province of Latina and the Municipality of Sabaudia, with the support of the BCC of Circeo and Privernate: an institutional foundation that has made it one of the most anticipated cultural events of the summer on the Pontine coast.
The format: free meetings under the stars
The events take place in the evening at 9:30 PM, with free admission subject to availability. The formula is simple and successful: a book, its author, and a moderator who leads the conversation, leaving ample room for questions from the audience. Themes range from the history of the Italian Republic to constitutional reflection, from legality to historical novels, from thrillers to cinema, and even manga and anime as tools for personal growth: a cross-disciplinary program that speaks to readers of all ages.
The 12th edition (2026)
The 2026 edition, scheduled from July 3rd to September 11th, was inaugurated by historian Mauro Canali, one of the most authoritative Italian scholars of the 20th century. The lineup includes, among others, former magistrate Luigi de Magistris, historian Miguel Gotor, writer and magistrate Giancarlo De Cataldo, as well as numerous graphic novel authors such as Angela Torri, Andrea Bavecchi, Assia Petricelli, Sergio Riccardi, and Simona Binni. The September segment completes the calendar with new voices in fiction and non-fiction.
Sabaudia, a planned city between sea and lake
Attending Books in the Park is also an opportunity to discover Sabaudia, a jewel of rationalist architecture founded in 1934 and now one of the most beloved seaside destinations in Lazio. The Municipality of Sabaudia is located within the Circeo National Park, between Lake Paola, the coastal dunes, and the Circeo promontory: a unique natural setting that gives meaning to the festival's subtitle, where culture truly meets nature.
Why attend
- Free meetings with leading figures of Italian culture
- An informal and convivial atmosphere on summer evenings
- Strong civic themes: history, Constitution, legality, memory
- Ample space for graphic novels and comic book languages
- The unique setting of Sabaudia and the Circeo National Park
Books in the Park — edition 2026
The twelfth edition of «Books in the Park – Where culture meets nature» confirms the formula that has made the Sabaudia festival famous: free evening meetings at 9:30 PM at the Angiolo Mazzoni Documentation Center, with free admission subject to availability.
The 2026 lineup, promoted by the Sabaudia Culturando APS Association with the patronage of the Province of Latina and the City of Sabaudia and the support of the BCC of Circeo and Privernate, explores the history of the Italian Republic, constitutional reflection, historical novels set in the Great War, graphic novels, thrillers, cinema, and even manga and anime as tools for growth. Announced guests include Mauro Canali, Luigi de Magistris, Miguel Gotor, Giancarlo De Cataldo, Angela Torri, Andrea Bavecchi, Assia Petricelli, Sergio Riccardi, Simona Binni, Massimiliano Smeriglio, Isabella Delle Monache, Gabriele Niola, and Cristina Cautillo, with a September segment featuring Massimo Montanile, Roberta Gatta, Carolina Giangrandi, and Benedetta Manfredi.
Programme Books in the Park 2026
12th Edition Calendar
All meetings begin at 9:30 PM at the Angiolo Mazzoni Documentation Center in Sabaudia, with free admission subject to availability.
- Friday, July 3 – Opening night with historian Mauro Canali, one of the most authoritative scholars of contemporary Italian history
- Thursday, July 9 – Luigi de Magistris presents «Attuare la Costituzione. Oltre gli ostacoli e gli abusi del potere», in dialogue with journalist Vittorio Buongiorno
- Friday, July 10 – Angela Torri and Andrea Bavecchi discuss the Great War with the graphic novel «Oltre»
- Thursday, July 16 – The graphic novel «Troppo libera. L'arte, l'amore, la lotta di Camille Claudel»
The July program continues with Miguel Gotor, Giancarlo De Cataldo, Assia Petricelli and Sergio Riccardi, Simona Binni, Massimiliano Smeriglio, Isabella Delle Monache, Gabriele Niola, and Cristina Cautillo. In September, the festival concludes with Massimo Montanile, Roberta Gatta, Carolina Giangrandi, and Benedetta Manfredi, leading up to the final evening on September 11.
Highlights Books in the Park 2026
- Opening night with historian Mauro Canali (July 3)
- Luigi de Magistris and the reflection on the Constitution (July 9)
- The graphic novel «Oltre» on the Great War with Angela Torri and Andrea Bavecchi
- Giancarlo De Cataldo and Miguel Gotor among the headline guests
- Focus on legality, memory, cinema, manga, and anime
- All meetings are free, at 9:30 PM, in the heart of Sabaudia
Prices Books in the Park 2026
Practical information — Books in the Park
Where and when
The meetings are held at the Angiolo Mazzoni Documentation Center, in the center of Sabaudia (LT), at 9:30 PM. Admission is free and open to the public until capacity is reached.
How to get there
By car: from Rome, take the SS148 Pontina state road until the exit for Sabaudia (approx. 90 km); from Naples, take the SS7 Appia via Terracina. Parking is available in the town center and along the seafront.
By train: Priverno-Fossanova railway station on the Rome–Naples line, then take a Cotral bus to Sabaudia.
Tips
Arrive early for evenings with well-known guests: seating is limited. In summer, Sabaudia offers beaches, Lake Paola, and the trails of the Circeo National Park, perfect for rounding out the day before the evening meeting.
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Where does it take place — Books in the Park
Centro di Documentazione Angiolo Mazzoni
Piazza del Comune, 04016 Sabaudia