Piceno d'Autore

A literary festival in the heart of Piceno

Piceno d'Autore is the literary review that has enlivened the summer of Monteprandone, a hilltop village in the province of Ascoli Piceno, in southern Marche, for over fifteen years. The meetings are held in the picturesque Piazza San Giacomo, in the heart of the historic centre, where each evening becomes an opportunity to hear writers, essayists, philosophers, and protagonists of Italian public debate live.

The festival's format

The festival is organised by the cultural association I Luoghi della Scrittura, with the patronage of the Municipality of Monteprandone and the support of local entities such as BIM Tronto and Banca del Piceno. Each edition is built around a central theme that intertwines literature, current affairs, and social issues: the authors do not just present their books, but engage in dialogue with the public and local interlocutors, creating evenings of in-depth discussion and reflection.

Voices of contemporary thought

Over the years, Piceno d'Autore has brought some of the most well-known names in Italian culture to Monteprandone. The 2025 edition hosted the writer and essayist Gianrico Carofiglio and the philosopher and theologian Vito Mancuso; previous editions have seen the participation, among others, of Massimo Cacciari, Umberto Galimberti, and Francesco Giorgino. A proposal that makes the quality of its guests and the depth of its themes its distinctive feature.

The village and the territory

Monteprandone is one of the most characteristic villages in the Piceno area, linked to the figure of San Giacomo della Marca and overlooking the Tronto valley, a few kilometres from the Adriatic coast of San Benedetto del Tronto. Participating in Piceno d'Autore also means discovering the historic village at sunset, amidst alleys, panoramic views, and the intimate atmosphere of the square where the events are held.

Useful information

• Where: Piazza San Giacomo, historic village of Monteprandone (AP), Marche.
• When: in July, usually in the evening.
• Admission: free; booking may be required for some events.
• Organisation: Associazione I Luoghi della Scrittura, with the patronage of the Municipality of Monteprandone.