Literature and Territory – Summer Edition

A festival crossing the Gargano

Literature and Territory – Summer Edition is the summer evolution of one of the most deep-rooted cultural initiatives on the Gargano promontory. Promoted by the Banca di Credito Cooperativo of San Giovanni Rotondo in partnership with the mutual aid society Gargano Vita, the festival transforms the squares of the Province of Foggia into open-air literary salons for weeks, where books become a catalyst for meeting, debate, and sharing.

Unlike a festival confined to a single location, this is a travelling event: each evening moves to a different town in the Gargano, from Manfredonia to Monte Sant'Angelo, from Mattinata to Carpino, including Torre Mileto and San Giovanni Rotondo itself, the bank's historic headquarters. It is a way to bring culture out of major hubs and back to the villages, the communities, and readers of all ages.

Author talks and special guests

The heart of the festival lies in its author talks: writers, journalists, essayists, and figures from civil and institutional life engage with the public, presenting their books and addressing major current issues. Over the years, the event has hosted prominent television journalists, Premio Strega winners and nominees, magistrates committed to the fight against the mafia, as well as artists and witnesses of our time.

Topics range from economics to geopolitics, civil rights to freedom of the press, and Italian musical heritage to environmental and marine protection. Each evening combines a book presentation with a direct dialogue with the audience, often enriched by musical interludes and multimedia performances.

A community project

The festival stems from the conviction, reiterated by the leadership of BCC San Giovanni Rotondo, that investing in culture means investing in the development of the territory and the social cohesion of Gargano communities. It is no coincidence that the event is supported by the Apulia Region, the Province of Foggia, and the University of Foggia, with the collaboration of the Ubik bookstore in Foggia.

The evenings take place in the most evocative squares and cloisters of the host towns, from the Piazza dei Martiri in San Giovanni Rotondo to the Municipal Cloister of Manfredonia, from the Aragonese Tower of Torre Mileto to the squares of Monte Sant'Angelo, Mattinata, and Carpino. A setting that weaves together words and landscape, literature and the identity of the Gargano.

Culture under the stars, free admission

All Summer Edition events are free to attend until capacity is reached: a hallmark that makes the festival a popular and accessible event, attracting both residents and tourists vacationing in the Gargano during the Apulian summer. For those spending their holidays between Manfredonia, the Sanctuary of San Pio, and the promontory's beaches, it is the ideal opportunity to combine the sea, spirituality, and good reading.