The Literary Square - Bread and Tales

A literary lounge in the heart of Tuscia

Every year in mid-June, the historic center of Vetralla turns into a widespread stage where literature meets traditional flavors. The Literary Square - Bread and Tales brings writers, journalists, and leading voices of Italian culture to Piazza Umberto I, in front of the Town Hall, for a series of afternoon and evening meetings open to everyone. The formula is simple and successful: an intimate dialogue with the author, followed by tastings of local products prepared by chefs and regional food and wine producers.

The origins of a rapidly growing festival

The event was born in 2023 as a literary offshoot of Vetralla's summer festivities, featuring a series of author dialogues hosted within the 'Flowers at the Window and Dinners in the Square' event. Success was immediate: by 2024, the second edition received 20,000 euros in support from the Lazio Region and attracted names like Diego Fusaro and the popular Luca Pappagallo, with show cooking and presentations held over two weekends. Edition after edition, the literary square has gained national stature while remaining true to its vocation as a cultured and convivial village festival.

The formula: bread, tales, and territory

The name of the festival says it all: on one hand, the tales, meaning the books and stories brought to the square by the guests; on the other, the bread, a symbol of the peasant tradition of the Viterbo Tuscia. After each meeting, the public is invited to taste local products, in a pairing of literature and cuisine that has become the event's trademark. The artistic direction is entrusted to Riccardo Deiana, while the organization is managed by the Vetralla Municipal Department of Culture, led by Councilor Daniela Venanzi.

In synergy with 'Flowers at the Window and Dinners in the Square'

The Literary Square takes place simultaneously with Flowers at the Window and Dinners in the Square, a historic event by Pro Loco Vetralla that reached its thirty-first edition in 2026: flower-adorned balconies and alleys, music, entertainment, and long convivial outdoor tables enliven the entire historic center. The two events feed off each other, offering visitors a complete experience among pages, flowers, and local dishes.

The guests who have made the festival's history

• Paolo Di Paolo, one of the most appreciated contemporary Italian writers
• Federico Quaranta, a well-known face and voice of radio and television
• Niccolò Zancan, correspondent for the newspaper La Stampa
• Barbara Alberti, Mariolina Venezia, and Fabio Stassi, protagonists of the 2025 edition
• Maria Grazia Calandrone, one of the most renowned poets and authors on the national scene
• Luca Pappagallo and Diego Fusaro, guests of the second edition

Vetralla, between Via Cassia and the Cimini Mountains

Located along the ancient Via Cassia, about fifteen kilometers from Viterbo, Vetralla is one of the gateways to the Tuscia region: a village of Etruscan and medieval origins, surrounded by chestnut and hazelnut groves, famous for its craftsmanship and Romanesque churches. The literary festival is also an opportunity to discover this authentic corner of the Lazio Region, far from major tourist flows but rich in history, folk traditions, and good food.