La Tore Literary Prize

A literary prize in the heart of the Island of Elba

The La Tore Literary Prize is one of the most anticipated cultural events of the summer on the Island of Elba. It takes place in Marciana Marina, a small town in the Province of Livorno overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, in the evocative Piazza della Chiesa, where every year the public gathers under the stars to listen to and meet a leading figure of Italian culture.

The event takes its name from the "Tore," the 16th-century tower that dominates the seaside village and serves as its symbol. The prize was founded in 2005 by booksellers Franco and Lucia Semeraro, then owners of the historic Libreria Rigola, and has been structured as a full-fledged literary award since 2008, with the establishment of an honorary committee.

A prestigious hall of fame

Over the years, the La Tore Prize has presented its award to some of the most important voices in the Italian literary and journalistic landscape. Recent winners include Antonio Scurati (2025), Marcello Veneziani (2024), Catena Fiorello Galeano (2023), Massimo Gramellini (2022), and Pietrangelo Buttafuoco (2020). Many of them are now members of the prize's honorary committee, which includes prominent figures in Italian journalism and non-fiction.

An evening between literature and art

The uniqueness of the La Tore Prize lies in the close bond between the written word and figurative art: the award presented to the winner is not a conventional plaque, but a work of art created each year by a different artist, becoming an integral part of the ceremony. The evening, which is free to attend, traditionally opens with an aperitif where the public can meet the awarded author and have books signed, before continuing in the square with the award ceremony, a dialogue with the winner, and a speech by the guest of honor.

An event for the whole of Elba

Promoted by Franco and Lucia Semeraro together with the Hotel Gabbiano Azzurro, the La Tore Prize enjoys the patronage of the Municipality of Marciana Marina and the collaboration of the local Pro Loco. It is a unique opportunity for visitors to the Island of Elba and Tuscany to experience an evening of high culture in an unforgettable setting, between the sea, the small harbor, and the alleys of the village, just a few steps from the famous medieval tower.