Il Libro Possibile

A literary festival in the heart of Puglia

Il Libro Possibile is the literary festival that enlivens Polignano a Mare, in the province of Bari, every summer. It turns the squares and alleys of the historic center overlooking the Adriatic into a series of stages where culture meets the general public. Organized by the Artes Cultural Association and directed by Rosella Santoro, the festival was founded in 2002 and has since become one of the most followed cultural events in Puglia and across Southern Italy.

An open-air living room on the Adriatic

The formula that made the event famous is that of an "open-air living room": writers, journalists, philosophers, scientists, economists, and artists appear on multiple stages simultaneously, offering spectators the chance to choose from dozens of meetings every evening. Book presentations are intertwined with debates on current events, lectio magistralis, readings, and concerts, in a rhythm that keeps the city alive until late at night. The setting of the Polignano village, with its terraces over the sea and historic squares, is an integral part of the experience.

Two locations: Polignano a Mare and Vieste

For several editions, the festival has been held in two Apulian locations: first Polignano a Mare, the historic home of the event, and then Vieste, on the Gargano promontory. This double appointment extends the festival season and brings over three hundred national and international guests to two of the most iconic tourist destinations in Puglia.

Themes and protagonists

Each edition is guided by a central theme that shapes the meetings: from fiction to geopolitics, science to the environment, economics to human rights, and entertainment to the new generations. Over the years, the festival stages have hosted prominent writers, Nobel laureates, investigative journalists, philosophers, and musicians, making Il Libro Possibile a meeting point between literature and civil debate.

A popular and free festival

One of the hallmarks of Il Libro Possibile is its accessibility: most events are free and open to the public, with only a few presentations requiring a symbolic contribution for charitable initiatives. This choice has made the festival a truly popular event, capable of filling the squares of the Municipality of Polignano a Mare every evening with thousands of people of all ages.