Insieme nelle Bellezze

A festival of books and theatre in the heart of Torre Annunziata

Insieme nelle Bellezze is the cultural festival that transforms Villa Parnaso, the historic park in Torre Annunziata (Metropolitan City of Naples, Campania), into a vibrant hub for books, performance, and civic engagement every spring. Established in 2023 by the Caffè Letterario Nuovevoci association, the 2026 edition marked the festival's fourth year, cementing its place in the city's cultural calendar as part of the "spring of culture" promoted by the local council and community groups.

Students at the heart of the project

The true uniqueness of Insieme nelle Bellezze lies in the role assigned to the youth: they are not mere spectators, but protagonists. Students from local high schools prepare the sessions, engage directly with authors, and manage parts of the organization. Four city schools participated in the fourth edition:

• Liceo Pitagora-Croce
• Liceo De Chirico
• Istituto Marconi
• Istituto Graziani-Cesaro-Vesevus

The program integrates with the Volwer Lab workshop, funded by the European Union's NextGenerationEU initiative, which involved approximately 160 students in 2026 in writing, communication, and cultural management activities. All events remain free and open to the public: this is the festival's core mission—to bring the school and the city together on common ground.

Authors, literary awards, and the stage

The heart of the program is the dialogue with nationally renowned writers and journalists. The 2026 edition brought war correspondent Giuliana Sgrena to Villa Parnaso, along with writers Giulia Caminito and Maria Grazia Calandrone—both Premio Strega finalists—and Emanuele Trevi, winner of the 2021 Premio Strega. Alongside book presentations, the festival features sensory theatre, civic storytelling, and live music: the closing event was headlined by Ascanio Celestini with "Poveri Cristi". Previous editions have featured guests such as Nichi Vendola, Antonio Franchini, and Matteo Saudino.

Villa Parnaso, a setting with a thousand-year history

The main venue is no ordinary place. Villa del Parnaso, overlooking Viale Guglielmo Marconi, connects the upper part of the city to the municipal gardens and the coast. Beneath its foundations lie the remains of a Roman-era settlement destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, while the current building reflects the residence constructed between the 16th and 17th centuries and rebuilt after the 1631 eruption. Reopened to the public in 2017 after extensive restoration, its park is now one of the few public green spaces in Torre Annunziata and serves as the festival's natural stage.

Beyond books: walking beneath Vesuvius

Insieme nelle Bellezze goes beyond the halls. The program includes local excursions, workshops, and a mindful walk on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, designed to help students rediscover the landscape they see every day. It reflects the spirit described by association president Andrea Palmieri: "We wanted to try the reverse path, to bring out the wonders that are already right beside us." In a city living with a complex history, the festival chooses to celebrate the beauty that already exists rather than looking elsewhere.

A project born from Caffè Letterario Nuovevoci

The Caffè Letterario Nuovevoci association, active in Torre Annunziata since 2008, has long been a local reference point for book presentations, author meetings, film clubs, and exhibitions. Insieme nelle Bellezze is its most ambitious project: since its first edition in 2023, it has grown year by year with the patronage of the Municipality of Torre Annunziata and the collaboration of local associations, establishing itself as one of the most anticipated cultural events in the Vesuvius area. Organizers are already working on the fifth edition.

Why it is worth attending

• Free meetings with prominent authors of the Italian literary scene
• A unique format that puts students in the interviewer's seat
• Theatre, live music, and civic storytelling alongside book presentations
• The setting of Villa Parnaso, between a historic park and views of the gulf
• Excursions and workshops to discover the Vesuvius territory