Velletri Libris
One author, one book, a glass of wine, a local flavor: literary encounters under the stars of the Castelli Romani
About Velletri Libris
Velletri Libris, the literary festival of the Castelli Romani
Every summer since 2017, the cloister of the Casa delle Culture e della Musica in Velletri transforms into a grand open-air literary salon. Velletri Libris is an international literature festival organized by the Fondazione De Cultura in collaboration with Mondadori Bookstore branches in Velletri, Lariano, Genzano, Frascati, Cisterna, and San Cesareo, with the patronage of the Municipality of Velletri, the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, and the Castelli Romani System, and with the support of the Lazio Region.
A unique formula: one author, one book, a glass of wine, a local flavor
The festival's slogan perfectly captures the spirit of these evenings: "One author, one book, a glass of wine, a local flavor... special encounters under the stars." Each event kicks off at 8:00 PM with complimentary food and wine tastings provided by local wineries and producers; at 8:40 PM, the evening's guest winery is introduced, at 8:50 PM a reading sets the stage for the book's themes, and at 9:00 PM the author talk begins, followed by a book signing and photo session. It is a format that weaves together literature and wine culture, two deep-rooted souls of Velletri and the Castelli Romani.
The guests: from Premio Strega finalists to international voices
In nearly a decade of history, Velletri Libris has brought some of the most prominent names in the Italian and international literary and cultural scene to the cloister stage. The traditional event with the Premio Strega finalists, a fixed stop on the Strega Tour, is one of the most anticipated moments of every edition. Over the years, the stage has hosted novelists, essayists, philosophers, investigative journalists, and figures from the worlds of entertainment and music: from Gianrico Carofiglio to Umberto Galimberti, from Murata Sayaka to Azar Nafisi and Javier Castillo, and including guests like Paolo Kessisoglu, Sigfrido Ranucci, Massimo Giannini, and Luca Carboni for the 2026 edition.
The cloister of the Casa delle Culture e della Musica
The heart of the festival is the evocative cloister of the Casa delle Culture e della Musica, located in Piazza Trento e Trieste in the historic center of Velletri. The former Carmine convent, now the city's cultural hub, offers an intimate and elegant setting where the public can meet authors up close, in the informal and convivial atmosphere that has become the festival's trademark.
Beyond the evenings: the National Prize and De Cultour
The summer festival is complemented by the «Velletri Libris» National Prize, with its ceremony traditionally held in September, and the traveling project De Cultour, which brings author encounters to the neighboring towns of the Castelli Romani, expanding the community of readers involved in the event.
Velletri, a city of wine and culture in Lazio
Nestled on the slopes of the Alban Hills, south of Rome, Velletri is one of the historic capitals of Lazio wine and boasts an ancient cultural tradition. Velletri Libris enhances this dual identity by pairing book pages with glasses from local wineries: an invitation to discover, alongside great literature, the flavors and landscapes of one of the most authentic corners of the Lazio Region.
Velletri Libris — edition 2026
Velletri Libris 2026: the tenth edition
In 2026, Velletri Libris celebrates its tenth edition with one of the richest lineups in its history. From June 20 to August 3, the cloister of the Casa delle Culture e della Musica in Velletri hosts eleven evenings featuring protagonists of Italian and international fiction, non-fiction, journalism, and music.
The inauguration, on Saturday, June 20, is entrusted to Paolo Kessisoglu with his novel «Ieri è il momento giusto»; the grand finale, on Monday, August 3, features Luca Carboni on stage with «Luca non parlava mai». In between, the philosopher Umberto Galimberti, former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, the Strega Tour evening with the six finalists of the 2026 Premio Strega, international guest Javier Castillo, Chiara Tagliaferri, investigative journalist Sigfrido Ranucci, historian Anna Foa, lawyer Cathy La Torre, and Massimo Giannini.
Each evening follows the festival's classic formula: opening at 8:00 PM with complimentary food and wine tastings, presentation of the guest winery, introductory reading, and author talk at 9:00 PM, followed by a book signing. Admission is free. The ceremony for the 2026 «Velletri Libris» National Prize is scheduled for September, while the De Cultour project brings itinerant stops to neighboring towns.
Programme Velletri Libris 2026
10th Edition Program — all evenings at 9:00 PM (doors open at 8:00 PM)
- Saturday, June 20 – Paolo Kessisoglu, «Ieri è il momento giusto» (Solferino)
- Friday, June 26 – Umberto Galimberti, «L'etica del viandante» (Feltrinelli)
- Tuesday, June 30 – Giuseppe Conte, «Una nuova primavera» (Marsilio)
- Tuesday, July 7 – Strega Tour: the six finalists of the 2026 Premio Strega (Michele Mari, Matteo Nucci, Bianca Pitzorno, Teresa Ciabatti, Alcide Pierantozzi, Elena Rui)
- Thursday, July 9 – Javier Castillo, «Il sussurro del fuoco» (Salani)
- Monday, July 13 – Chiara Tagliaferri, «Arkansas. Storia di mia figlia» (Mondadori)
- Wednesday, July 15 – Sigfrido Ranucci, «Il ritorno della casta» (Bompiani)
- Friday, July 17 – Anna Foa, «Mai più» (Laterza)
- Monday, July 20 – Cathy La Torre, «Tutte le volte che le donne» (Rizzoli)
- Wednesday, July 22 – Massimo Giannini, «La sciamana» (Rizzoli)
- Monday, August 3 – Luca Carboni, «Luca non parlava mai» (Sem)
Every evening: 8:00 PM complimentary food and wine tastings, 8:40 PM presentation of the guest winery, 8:50 PM reading by Silvia Ciriaci, 9:00 PM book presentation, followed by book signing.
Highlights Velletri Libris 2026
- Tenth edition of the international literature festival
- Opening with Paolo Kessisoglu and grand finale with Luca Carboni
- Strega Tour: evening with the six finalists of the 2026 Premio Strega
- International guest: Spanish writer Javier Castillo
- Complimentary food and wine tastings with local wineries
- Free entry to all evenings in the cloister of the Casa delle Culture e della Musica
Prices Velletri Libris 2026
Practical information — Velletri Libris
Getting there
Velletri is easily reached by train from Rome Termini via the FL4 regional line (about a one-hour journey); the Casa delle Culture e della Musica is located in Piazza Trento e Trieste, in the historic center, a short distance from the station. By car, from Rome, take the Via Appia (SS7) towards the Castelli Romani.
Admission and times
Admission is free for all evenings, and food and wine tastings are complimentary. Doors open at 8:00 PM, book presentations begin at 9:00 PM.
Tips
Seats in the cloister cannot be reserved: for the most anticipated evenings, it is advisable to arrive well in advance. The events take place outdoors: in case of bad weather, please check the festival's official social media channels.
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Where does it take place — Velletri Libris
Chiostro della Casa delle Culture e della Musica
Piazza Trento e Trieste, 00049 Velletri