Giaveno Gialla Literary Festival

A week of (paper) crimes in Giaveno

Every September, the Municipality of Giaveno, located in the Val Sangone valley just outside Turin, catches a serious case of crime fever: it's time for Giaveno Gialla, the literary festival dedicated to mystery, noir, and thriller novels. For a few days, the squares, halls, and bookstores of the historic center become the stage for a grand celebration of investigative literature, where curious readers and top-tier genre authors meet face-to-face.

The festival and the Giallo Giaveno competition

The beating heart of the event is the Giallo Giaveno national literary competition, which honors the best unpublished crime stories (mystery, thriller, or noir) written in Italian. The ten finalists are featured in an anthology published by Impremix Edizioni, while the winning story earns a spot in the prestigious Il Giallo Mondadori collection. The jury is chaired by Franco Forte, director of Il Giallo Mondadori, underscoring the festival's deep ties to the genre's publishing world.

Meetings, guests, and atmosphere

The Giaveno Gialla program weaves together book presentations, author dialogues, creative workshops, and playful moments like the famous murder mystery dinners, where the audience becomes part of the investigation. Past editions have featured beloved authors such as Alice Basso, Paola Barbato, Enrico Pandiani, Piergiorgio Pulixi, and the Turin-based collective Torinoir. Piazza Mautino, in the heart of Giaveno, traditionally hosts the competition's awards ceremony.

Why it's worth the trip

• A reader-friendly festival offering direct access to authors in an informal and welcoming atmosphere.
• The setting of Giaveno, a village in the Province of Turin, Piedmont, surrounded by mountains, local gastronomy, and the famous Giaveno bread.
• Almost all events are free to attend.
• Editorial backing from Il Giallo Mondadori and Impremix Edizioni, making Giaveno Gialla a key reference point for crime fiction in Italy.

Whether you are a devourer of mysteries, an aspiring writer, or simply a curious traveler looking for a unique weekend, Giaveno Gialla is the perfect opportunity to combine reading, culture, and a getaway in Piedmont.