Libriganzi
Festival of books and inland areas in Gagliano Aterno
About Libriganzi
A book festival in the heart of the Abruzzo Apennines
Libriganzi is the literary festival that has been held since 2023 in Gagliano Aterno, a small medieval village in the Valle Subequana, in the province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo. Promoted by the Simon Tanner Association together with a collective of residents and numerous local cultural entities, with the patronage and support of the Municipality of Gagliano Aterno, the festival is much more than a book fair: it is an opportunity to rethink the present and future of the Apennine inland areas, amidst depopulation, regeneration, and new ways of living.
Books, territories, and communities
Each edition revolves around a theme that intertwines literature with reflections on the highlands. For three days, the village fills with book presentations, debates, meetings with authors and artists, as well as concerts, performances, workshops for children and families, inclusive paths, and walks and bike rides in the nature of the Valle Subequana. The program alternates between in-depth discussions and convivial moments, with yoga, artisan markets, outdoor activities, and the Ludobus dedicated to the little ones.
The Cloister of Santa Chiara and the village
The heart of the event is the Cloister of Santa Chiara, a former convent restored after the 2009 earthquake, which hosts the main meetings along with the streets and squares of the medieval village. The Simon Tanner bookstore, open year-round in the village, is the cultural hub that gave rise to the festival and sustains its spirit throughout the year.
A laboratory of regeneration
Libriganzi tells the story of Gagliano Aterno as one of the symbolic villages for the regeneration of Italian inland areas: young people returning or arriving, repopulation projects, and practices of hospitality and care for the territory of the Sirente-Velino Regional Natural Park. The festival brings together residents, researchers, administrators, and visitors to discuss the idea that small Apennine towns can be vibrant spaces rather than just places to be preserved.
Why attend
- A village-scale literary festival immersed in the Valle Subequana
- Meetings with authors, debates on inland areas and the future of the mountains
- Concerts, workshops, walks, and activities for families
- The setting of the Cloister of Santa Chiara and the medieval village of Gagliano Aterno
Libriganzi — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of Libriganzi, the fourth, brought the theme "Making spaces: transforming, preserving" to Gagliano Aterno. The festival opened on Thursday, June 26, with an Avant Festival dedicated to the screening of the documentary "Ritorno al Tratturo" by Francesco Cordio, Filippo Tantillo, and Elio Germano, followed by a debate on memory, landscape, and transhumance.
Friday, June 27, titled "Let's take space!", featured the presentation of the book "Quando nei paesi chiudono i bar", meetings with organizations like Labsus, CaseMatte, and Foresteria Bene Comune, a Poetry Slam Contest, and concerts by Antonio Mastrogiorgio and No Funny Stuff. Saturday, June 28, dedicated to "Common goods and territory," saw the presentation of "Due Sherpa – Stagioni al Sirente," a talk on how to protect territories, a meeting on Apennine bears, a writing workshop, and an astrological cabaret with dinner.
Alongside the main program, the Oltrefestival offered walks, yoga, excursions in the Valle Subequana, bike rides, workshops for children, and the artisan market, with the Simon Tanner bookstore acting as a cultural hub.
Programme Libriganzi 2026
Thursday, June 26 — Avant Festival
- Screening of the documentary "Ritorno al Tratturo" by Francesco Cordio, Filippo Tantillo, and Elio Germano
- Debate on memory, landscape, and transhumance
Friday, June 27 — "Let's take space!"
- Presentation of the book "Quando nei paesi chiudono i bar"
- Meetings with Labsus, CaseMatte, Foresteria Bene Comune, and the Fuoribolla collective
- Poetry Slam Contest
- Concerts by Antonio Mastrogiorgio and No Funny Stuff
Saturday, June 28 — "Common goods and territory"
- Presentation of "Due Sherpa – Stagioni al Sirente"
- Talk "Protecting territories" and meeting on Apennine bears
- Writing workshop
- Astrological cabaret with dinner
Oltrefestival
- Walks, yoga, excursions in the Valle Subequana, and bike rides
- Workshops for children, artisan market, and Simon Tanner bookstore
Highlights Libriganzi 2026
- 2026 Theme: "Making spaces: transforming, preserving"
- Documentary "Ritorno al Tratturo" with Elio Germano
- Poetry Slam Contest and evening concerts
- Inclusive literary walk with joëlette from Castel di Ieri to Gagliano Aterno
Prices Libriganzi 2026
Practical information — Libriganzi
Getting there
Gagliano Aterno (AQ) is located in the Valle Subequana, about 40 km from L'Aquila. By car, it can be reached from the A25 motorway (Cocullo or Pratola Peligna-Sulmona exit) and the provincial roads of the Valle Subequana. The nearest train station is in Sulmona, from which you can continue by car.
Admission
Most festival events are free of charge. Reservations may be required for some activities (dinners, workshops).
Information
For the updated program, you can contact the Simon Tanner Association via email or follow the festival's social media channels.
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 — Libriganzi
Chiostro di Santa Chiara e borgo medievale