Reading Under the Stars

A literary salon by the sea

Reading Under the Stars is the summer literary festival of the Municipality of Nettuno, in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, in Lazio. It is a true open-air literary salon: for several consecutive evenings between late July and early August, invited authors present their books to an audience seated by the sea, at the beach club managed by the local Pro Loco. The formula is simple and well-tested—presentation, dialogue with the audience, and book signings—but it is precisely this simplicity that makes it appreciated by those seeking a cultural moment without giving up the seaside atmosphere of the Lazio coast.

One of the first festivals on the coast south of Rome

The event is described by the organizers themselves as one of the first literary salons on the coast south of Rome. In a stretch of coast where the summer scene is traditionally dominated by music, food festivals, and shows, the choice to dedicate a week to books has built a loyal audience over time, consisting of residents, vacationers, and readers arriving from Anzio, Aprilia, Latina, and the Roman hinterland. In 2025, the festival reached the milestone of its tenth edition, a sign of rare continuity for a local cultural event.

What to expect

The program is not limited to a single genre: past editions have featured a mix of contemporary novels, fantasy sagas, thrillers, award-winning poetry collections, aphorisms, historical non-fiction, and local history books tied to the memory of the territory—a theme particularly felt in Nettuno, a city marked by the Anzio landing and battle. Each evening is dedicated to an author or a group of authors, often accompanied by a moderator or a guest who introduces the volume's theme.

• Fiction and sagas: contemporary novels, fantasy, and multi-volume series
• Thrillers and noir, genres highly popular with the summer audience
• Poetry and aphorisms, with live readings
• Non-fiction and local history, from the wartime events of the coast to 20th-century curiosities

Setting and atmosphere

The meetings are held outdoors, at the Pro Loco beach club on the Nettuno seafront, usually in the late afternoon or after sunset, when the temperature becomes more pleasant. The audience sits informally, without the solemnity of conference halls: those who wish can stop for an aperitif or dinner before or after the presentation. It is this blend of culture and vacation that sets the tone for the festival, which remains accessible even to those who happen upon it while strolling along the seafront.

Nettuno, between the medieval village and the sea

Those arriving for the festival will find a city that deserves a visit in its own right. The Medieval Village of Nettuno, with its narrow alleys and colorful houses, is one of the best-preserved historic centers on the Lazio coast; not far away are the Forte Sangallo, a 16th-century fortress overlooking the sea, and the Sanctuary of Santa Maria Goretti, a destination for pilgrimages from all over Italy. The Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and the memorial sites of the Second World War complete a historical picture that often resurfaces, not surprisingly, in the books presented during the evenings.

A piece of the Nettuno summer

Reading Under the Stars is part of a rich summer calendar, promoted by the Municipality of Nettuno and local associations, which includes music festivals, open-air cinema in the neighborhoods, food and wine events, and the major Ferragosto celebrations in Piazza Cesare Battisti. The literary festival represents its most intimate soul: a few evenings, no monumental stage, just the power of words.