Tusa Book Festival

A literary festival in the heart of Sicily

The Tusa Book Festival is a literary event held every summer in Tusa, a picturesque medieval village in the province of Messina overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. The event is part of the Estate Alesina, a rich cultural program promoted by the Municipality of Tusa that brings the village to life from May to September with shows, food festivals, exhibitions, and initiatives dedicated to local heritage.

For several days, Tusa's historic center transforms into an open-air stage for book culture: presentations, author meetings, readings, and discussions take place among the streets, squares, and courtyards of the village, creating an intimate, cozy atmosphere that has always been a hallmark of literary festivals in smaller towns.

Tusa, between Halaesa and the sea

The festival is set against a backdrop of extraordinary historical and scenic richness. Tusa is home to the Halaesa Arconidea archaeological site, an ancient Greek city, and is renowned for its coastline, which has been awarded the Blue Flag. The area is also linked to the famous Fiumara d'Arte contemporary art trail, which has made this corner of the Nebrodi a place where ancient heritage meets modern creativity.

In this setting, the Book Festival adds a cultural layer that weaves the written word with the village's identity, offering residents and visitors the chance to experience the authentic Sicilian hinterland far from mass tourism circuits.

A highlight of the Estate Alesina

The Book Festival shares Tusa's summer calendar with numerous other events: theatrical performances at the Halaesa archaeological park, food festivals celebrating local flavors like the Antichi Sapori, the Olive Festival, and the Fish Festival, as well as the Archaeology Week. The festival thus represents the literary soul of a summer season that aims to combine culture, tradition, gastronomy, and heritage discovery.

• Where: Historic center of Tusa (ME), Sicily
• When: August, as part of the Estate Alesina
• Theme: Books, literature, and author meetings
• Organization: Municipality of Tusa

Why attend

Visiting the Book Festival means combining a passion for reading with the discovery of one of the most charming villages in the province of Messina. Between presentations and meetings, visitors can stroll through the historic center, visit the Halaesa site, or enjoy a day at the beach along the Tusa coast, following an itinerary that reveals the most authentic side of Sicily.