Leggo per legittima difesa – Festival of Narratives, Art, and Music

A widespread festival with its heart in Pettorano sul Gizio

Leggo per legittima difesa is a travelling cultural festival that traverses six municipalities in the province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo, every summer: Pettorano sul Gizio, Sulmona, Pratola Peligna, Raiano, Pacentro, and Campo di Giove. Its heart beats in Pettorano sul Gizio, one of Italy's most beautiful villages, dominated by the Castello Cantelmo, which hosts the event's inauguration. Founded in the summer of 2020 by the Terza Pagina Cultural Association and directed by journalist Chiara Buccini, the project has evolved over the years from a simple series of book presentations into a full-fledged festival of narratives, art, and music.

Culture among the villages of the L'Aquila region

The festival was born from a clear vision: to bring books and stories out of bookstores and into the squares, castles, and civic halls of the small villages of inland Abruzzo. The stops are held in evocative locations such as the Castello Cantelmo in Pettorano sul Gizio, overlooking the Monte Genzana Alto Gizio Regional Nature Reserve, offering locals and summer tourists a rich calendar of author meetings, educational workshops for children, guided tours, and musical events. All events are free of charge.

Pettorano sul Gizio, the main venue

Located at the entrance to the Gizio Gorges, at the gateway to the Maiella National Park, the municipality of Pettorano sul Gizio is the festival's main base. It is here, within the walls of the Castello Cantelmo, that the festival opens its doors every year with the inaugural meeting, before the calendar spreads to the other five villages. The bond with the Monte Genzana Alto Gizio Nature Reserve links the cultural offerings to the enhancement of the landscape and nature of the L'Aquila side of the mountains.

A project rooted in the territory

With eleven book presentations, four workshops, three guided tours, and the traditional Ferragosto Concert, Leggo per legittima difesa has become a benchmark for the cultural summer in the Peligna Valley. The event, promoted by Terza Pagina and supported by the host municipalities and local entities, enhances the heritage of the villages in the L'Aquila area and promotes reading as a tool for growth and cohesion for the mountain communities of Abruzzo.