Letture Amene Festival
A festival of nature, picture books, and the arts on Lake Orta
About Letture Amene
A festival of books, nature, and art on Lake Orta
The Letture Amene Festival is a grand celebration of children's literature, illustration, and the arts that brings the villages of Ameno and Miasino to life every spring. Nestled in the heart of the Cusio region, on the hills overlooking Lake Orta (Province of Novara, Piedmont), the festival is promoted by the DragoLago ETS Association. It has become a highly anticipated event for families, educators, and picture book enthusiasts, successfully blending high-quality cultural content with the beauty of a territory filled with historic villas, gardens, and woods overlooking the water.
Picture books, childhood, and relationships
At the heart of the festival are picture books: stories where words and images engage in a dialogue to support children's growth. Each edition revolves around a theme that serves as a common thread for workshops, readings, and exhibitions. Alongside children, the festival also focuses on the adults who share these books with them: parents, teachers, librarians, and educators, in a journey that makes the educational community one of its core values.
Two villages, two historic residences
Activities take place across two iconic local landmarks: Palazzo Tornielli in Ameno, which also houses the Tornielli Museum, and Villa Nigra in Miasino, a stunning 16th-century residence surrounded by a park. Between these two venues, the festival spreads throughout the villages with forest readings, book markets, exhibitions, and social gatherings, transforming the entire Cusio landscape into an open-air book.
What to expect
- Creative workshops on writing, pop-up book making, and illustration for various age groups
- Animated storytime sessions for younger children
- Theatrical performances and puppet theatre for families
- Exhibitions of illustration and art within the spaces of Villa Nigra and the Tornielli Museum
- Round tables with authors, illustrators, and educators
- Book market and refreshment areas in both villages
With its blend of nature, illustration, and the arts, the Letture Amene Festival is one of the most vibrant cultural realities on Lake Orta and in Upper Piedmont, and an ideal destination for those seeking a family-friendly experience in a landscape of rare beauty during the spring.
Letture Amene — edition 2026
The sixth edition of the Letture Amene Festival was held on May 23 and 24, 2026, in Ameno and Miasino, under the artistic direction of Mariella Carbone and organized by the DragoLago ETS Association. The year's theme, METAXÚ – between you and me, takes up the Greek word meaning «that which is in between», the space of encounter: an invitation to build bridges between people, cultures, languages, and generations in a time marked by conflict.
The program alternated between the Palazzo Tornielli venue in Ameno and Villa Nigra in Miasino, with round tables, workshops for all ages, forest readings, family theatre shows, and three illustration and art exhibitions. The event confirmed its vocation as a widespread festival, capable of uniting children's publishing, the arts, and the landscape of Lake Orta.
Programme Letture Amene 2026
Saturday, May 23 — Palazzo Tornielli, Ameno
- 10:00 — Round table on the theme of reading as an educational community, with educators, artists Ayumi Makita and Barbara Lachi, and representatives from the youth council and schools
- 15:00 — Meeting with writer Roberto Morgese; in parallel, creative writing workshops and read-aloud sessions
- 16:00 — Read-aloud session for children aged 3 to 5 (with Susanna Soncin) and workshop inspired by the exhibitions
- 17:00 — Pop-up book making workshop with Ayumi Makita and Barbara Lachi
- Evening — Family theatre show «3Pigs. cosa è casa» by Campsirago Residenza
Sunday, May 24 — Villa Nigra, Miasino
- 10:00 — Workshops for parents with small children and for children aged 6+
- 15:00 — Separate workshops for adults and children aged 6 to 10
- 16:00 — Readings and activities spread throughout the villa and park
- 17:30 — Final show with masks made by the children and closing parade with APS Zazzi
Exhibitions (open May 19-24)
- «Anima in Fabula» by Mariella Carbone — puppet theatre, marionettes, and sculptures, at Villa Nigra (Miasino)
- «Nel Profondo» — works born from the dialogue between Italian and Palestinian artists, at Palazzo Tornielli (Ameno)
- «Piccoli dolori, grandi canzoni» — collection of miniature artist books, at the Tornielli Museum (Ameno), by reservation for schools
Additional activities: «Print Point» artisanal fabric printing, book market in collaboration with Libreria Feltrinelli, refreshment points in both villages, and outdoor activities as part of the «Stagioni del Quadrifoglio» program.
Highlights Letture Amene 2026
Prices Letture Amene 2026
Practical information — Letture Amene
Getting there
Ameno and Miasino can be reached by car from the A26 motorway (Borgomanero or Arona exit) towards Lake Orta. By train, the reference station is Orta-Miasino on the Novara–Domodossola line, from which you can continue to the two villages.
Admission
Admission to the festival is free, with voluntary donations accepted to support the association. Workshops generally require booking.
Booking and information
For workshops and updates, please email [email protected] or visit the DragoLago Association website.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Letture Amene
Palazzo Tornielli e Villa Nigra (Miasino)
Palazzo Tornielli, 28010 Ameno