BorgoPoesia
Two days of verse, encounters, and awards at Villa Marazza in Borgomanero
About BorgoPoesia
Borgomanero, capital of poetry
Every year in early June, Borgomanero becomes a poetic village par excellence thanks to BorgoPoesia, a festival that dedicates two full days to the written word. The beating heart of the event is Villa Marazza, an elegant 18th-century residence set within the greenery of a centuries-old park, now home to the Achille Marazza Foundation – Public Library and House of Culture. Here, in the Hall of Honor and the inner courtyard, the program features award ceremonies, readings, presentations, and social gatherings that make this town in the Province of Novara, Piedmont, a reference point for contemporary poetry.
The "City of Borgomanero – Achille Marazza" Prize
The core of the event is the "City of Borgomanero – Achille Marazza" Poetry Prize, a free national competition divided into two sections: one reserved for authors (with published or unpublished collections) and one dedicated to high school students. The authors' section awards a prize of one thousand euros, while students receive book vouchers; about a hundred participants also receive four issues of the magazine Atelier. The award ceremony, the highlight of the festival, takes place in the evocative Hall of Honor of Villa Marazza.
Conferences, readings, and meetings
Alongside the prize, BorgoPoesia offers a rich cultural program:
- International conferences dedicated to themes and protagonists of poetry, featuring poets, critics, and scholars;
- Readings of poetic texts by actors and authors;
- Book presentations and meetings with contemporary poets;
- Workshops for children, to introduce the youngest to poetry;
- Literary aperitifs in the villa's courtyard, in an atmosphere of sharing.
A local cultural network
The event is promoted by the Municipality of Borgomanero (Department of Culture and Education) together with the Achille Marazza Foundation and the 'Don Pietro Bernini' Cultural Center, with the collaboration of the magazine Atelier, a historic publication for poetry, criticism, and literature founded in 1996 in Borgomanero. It is a virtuous example of how a medium-sized town in Piedmont can become a crossroads of national poetic culture, while enhancing its own historical and artistic heritage.
BorgoPoesia — edition 2026
BorgoPoesia 2026 — 6th edition
The sixth edition of BorgoPoesia brought Borgomanero to life on June 5 and 6, 2026, transforming the city into a poetic village par excellence. The central theme of the year was the 30th anniversary of the magazine 'Atelier', founded in 1996 by Giuliano Ladolfi and Andrea Temporelli, celebrated with an international conference titled 'Atelier: 30 years of poetic laboratory'. The days, hosted at the 18th-century Villa Marazza, intertwined award ceremonies, readings, presentations, and social moments.
'City of Borgomanero – Achille Marazza' Prize — 6th edition
On Saturday, June 6, the award ceremony for the competition was held in the Hall of Honor of Villa Marazza. Key figures included Prof. Giuliano Ladolfi, actor Giulio Greco, the director of the Marazza Foundation Giovanni Cerutti, the Councilor for Culture Francesco Valsesia, and city councilor Massimo Zanetta.
- Authors' section — First prize to Fabrizio Bregoli; mentions to Ivan Fedeli, Rossana Frattaruolo, Francesco Gabellini, and Camilla Ziglia.
- Student section — First prize to Matilde Cuscusa; mentions to Matilde Gioria, Gioele Testori, Martina Ubertalli, and Matteo Vacca.
Meetings and presentations
On Saturday, June 6, at 4:00 PM, the volume 'Che cos'è poesia? Spunti di vista per abitare poeticamente il mondo' by Cecilia Martino (Giuliano Ladolfi Editore, Smeraldo series) was presented, with readings by Giulio Greco. Other guests included poet Isabella Leardini, a candidate for the 2026 Strega Poetry Prize with 'Maniere Nere', and Andrea Temporelli, co-founder of Atelier.
Programme BorgoPoesia 2026
Friday, June 5
- Opening of the 6th edition of BorgoPoesia with readings, author presentations, and children's workshops
- International conference 'Atelier: 30 years of poetic laboratory', for the 30th anniversary of the magazine founded in 1996 by Giuliano Ladolfi and Andrea Temporelli
Saturday, June 6 — Villa Marazza
- 4:00 PM — Presentation of the book 'Che cos'è poesia? Spunti di vista per abitare poeticamente il mondo' by Cecilia Martino (Giuliano Ladolfi Editore), readings by Giulio Greco
- Award ceremony for the 'City of Borgomanero – Achille Marazza' Poetry Prize (6th edition) in the Hall of Honor
- Literary aperitif in the villa's inner courtyard
Highlights BorgoPoesia 2026
Prices BorgoPoesia 2026
Practical information — BorgoPoesia
Location
Villa Marazza, Viale Marazza 5, 28021 Borgomanero (NO), Piedmont. The villa houses the Achille Marazza Foundation and is nestled in a centuries-old park in the city center.
How to reach us
By train: the Borgomanero station is on the Novara–Domodossola line, just a few minutes' walk from the center. By car: the city is easily reached from the A26 motorway (Borgomanero exit). The nearest airport is Milan Malpensa, approximately 40 km away.
Admission and contacts
Admission to events is generally free. For information and the Poetry Prize: [email protected]. Program and updates are available on the Marazza Foundation website.
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Where does it take place — BorgoPoesia
Villa Marazza
Viale Marazza 5, 28021 Borgomanero