Neon Literary Festival
Books around and within the planet, between Martinsicuro and Villa Rosa
About Neon
The Neon Festival in Martinsicuro
The Neon Literary Festival – subtitled Books around and within the planet – is a cultural event dedicated to books and reading that enlivens the summer in Martinsicuro, a coastal town in the province of Teramo, at the northernmost tip of the Abruzzo Riviera bordering the Marche region. Established in 2023, the festival is promoted by the Municipality of Martinsicuro through the Department of Culture and the municipal library, with the artistic direction of Valeria Di Felice and the collaboration of Di Felice Edizioni.
A different theme every year
The hallmark of Neon is the choice of a central theme that ties all the meetings together. Since its first editions, the festival has established itself as one of the most popular literary events on the Teramo coast, bringing renowned writers, journalists, and well-known figures from the world of entertainment to Abruzzo. The meetings, almost always held in the evening and free of charge, combine book presentations with dialogues with authors, often enriched by readings, music, and performances.
The venues
The festival takes place in several locations between Martinsicuro and the district of Villa Rosa:
- Rotonda Las Palmas, overlooking the sea, the heart of the main events
- Torre Carlo V, a 16th-century tower that serves as a symbol of the city
- Piazza Don Salvatore Barbizzi in Villa Rosa, for the most popular shows
The involvement of local schools – particularly the Sandro Pertini Comprehensive Institute of Martinsicuro – is an integral part of the project: students read the festival's featured books and present their own work during the events.
A local event
With the patronage of the Abruzzo Region and the Province of Teramo, the Neon Festival has become a cultural landmark for residents and tourists who flock to this stretch of the Abruzzo coastline during the summer months. The formula – books, author meetings, and outdoor shows – makes Neon an opportunity to combine a seaside holiday with culture, while enhancing the identity of a border community between Abruzzo and the Marche.
Neon — edition 2026
Neon 2026: "Stories that save the world"
The fourth edition of the Neon Literary Festival in Martinsicuro is dedicated to the theme of peace, under the title Stories that save the world. The program, presented at the Turin International Book Fair in May 2026, consists of four events between June and July, under the artistic direction of Valeria Di Felice and in collaboration with the Sandro Pertini Comprehensive Institute.
The events
- June 14, 9:15 PM – Rotonda Las Palmas: presentation of Diario di un sogno possibile by Gino Strada (Feltrinelli Kids) with an Emergency delegation and Simonetta Gola via video link
- June 18 – Torre Carlo V: meeting "The arteries of our land," with Father Settimio Luciano, Massimo Pizzingrilli, Valeria Di Felice, and Erika Angelini
- July 13 – Rotonda Las Palmas: journalist Elia Milani presents Voci dal confine. Otto anni di storie tra israeliani e palestinesi (Mondadori)
- July 22 – Piazza Don Salvatore Barbizzi, Villa Rosa: Giobbe Covatta's show "70. Riassunto delle puntate precedenti"
The meetings are held in Martinsicuro and the district of Villa Rosa, in the province of Teramo, with the patronage of the Abruzzo Region and the Province of Teramo.
Programme Neon 2026
- June 14, 9:15 PM – Rotonda Las Palmas: Diario di un sogno possibile by Gino Strada (Feltrinelli Kids), with an Emergency delegation and Simonetta Gola via video link
- June 18 – Torre Carlo V: "The arteries of our land: the courage of peace and the testimony of Jacob Israël De Haan," with Father Settimio Luciano, Massimo Pizzingrilli, Valeria Di Felice, Erika Angelini
- July 13 – Rotonda Las Palmas: Elia Milani, Voci dal confine. Otto anni di storie tra israeliani e palestinesi (Mondadori)
- July 22 – Piazza Don Salvatore Barbizzi, Villa Rosa: Giobbe Covatta, "70. Riassunto delle puntate precedenti"
Highlights Neon 2026
Prices Neon 2026
Practical information — Neon
Where
The events take place between Martinsicuro and the district of Villa Rosa (Teramo, Abruzzo), mainly at the Rotonda Las Palmas, the Torre Carlo V, and Piazza Don Salvatore Barbizzi.
How to get there
By car: take the Val Vibrata exit on the A14 motorway, then follow the SS16 Adriatica. By train: Martinsicuro-Villa Rosa station on the Adriatic line. The nearest airport is Ancona-Falconara.
Admission
The festival events are generally free and open to the public. For the updated program, please refer to the official channels of the Municipality of Martinsicuro and the festival.
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Where does it take place — Neon
Rotonda Las Palmas