Una Torre di Libri

A festival of words in the Waldensian mountains

Una Torre di Libri is one of Piedmont's most beloved cultural events. For nearly twenty years, it has transformed the small town of Torre Pellice, in the province of Turin, into the summer capital of reading. Nestled in the Pellice Valley, the historic home of the Waldensian community, the town welcomes writers, journalists, musicians, and thousands of readers every July in an informal and welcoming atmosphere, where culture intertwines with the beauty of the Cottian Alps.

History and identity

The festival was born in 2008 from an idea by Walter Eynard, the historic restaurateur of Flipot, and Manuel Kromer of the Claudiana publishing house, with the support of the Municipality of Torre Pellice. Since then, the festival has grown without betraying its vocation: bringing the public closer to books in a direct and free way. Over the years, it has hosted over five hundred events and brought great names of Italian culture to the stage, from Umberto Eco to Andrea Camilleri, from Claudio Magris to many emerging authors, alongside concerts by groups like Africa Unite and Yo Yo Mundi.

The 2026 program

The 2026 edition, scheduled from July 9th to 12th, will be preceded by a preview on June 20th featuring Enzo Bianchi, founder of the Bose monastic community, in conversation at the Waldensian Temple. The four days of the festival, hosted mainly in Piazza Municipio, will alternate between book presentations, current affairs discussions, shows, and live music:

• Thursday, July 9th — Marco Ballestracci with "Fare biciclette" and Franco Faggiani with "La luce del primo mattino".
• Friday, July 10th — A historical walk to the cemetery with the Waldensian Board Archive and, in the evening, Simone Lanza with the theatrical performance "Un attimo e arrivo!".
• Saturday, July 11th — Children's workshops with Milena Jahier, the "Disonorare la guerra" conference, a meeting with historian Anna Foa, and a concert by the Emanuele Cisi jazz quintet.
• Sunday, July 12th — Bruna Peyrot, Paola Mongelli, and Paolo Di Paolo with "Un mondo nuovo tutti i giorni".

Between literature, music, and civic engagement

What sets Una Torre di Libri apart is its ability to combine literature with a strong focus on current events, memory, and civic engagement—a legacy of the Waldensian tradition that characterizes Torre Pellice and the entire Pellice Valley. Conferences, presentations, concerts, and workshops for the little ones make the festival an experience suitable for all ages, always with free admission.

An event rooted in the territory

Organized by the Claudiana Bookstore with the Diversi Sguardi association and the support of the Waldensian Church's "Otto per Mille" fund and the Municipality of Torre Pellice, the festival is now a defining event for the Pellice Valley community and a draw for visitors from all over Piedmont. Strolling through the town's squares during the July evenings, between a presentation and a concert under the stars, is one of the most beautiful ways to discover this corner of the mountains rich in history.