Villa Lais Legge — The City of Books
Independent publishing in the gardens of Villa Lais
About Villa Lais Legge
The City of Books at Villa Lais
Villa Lais Legge is the festival that brings Italian independent publishing to the gardens of Villa Lais every year in late May. Located in one of the most beloved historic parks in the Appio Latino/Tuscolano district, within Rome's Municipio VII, the event turns the green space on Via Paolo Albera into a vibrant hub of books, discussions, music, and ideas, living up to its subtitle: "The City of Books."
A hub for independent publishing
The festival is organized by the Blue Room bookstore in collaboration with the CrunchEd cultural association and Tab Edizioni, with the support of Municipio VII and the participation of ADEI (Association of Independent Publishers). Each edition brings together dozens of independent publishing houses—from Voland to Exòrma, Nova Delphi to Sinnos, as well as Jimenez Edizioni, Edizioni Ensemble, Radici Edizioni, le plurali editrice, and many others—showcasing their catalogs and authors to the public.
A program of books, music, and civic engagement
The schedule features a mix of book presentations, readings, workshops, and round-table discussions. Themes range from urban planning and metropolitan storytelling to human rights, historical memory, and civic engagement, alongside contemporary narratives. The event also includes live music and opportunities for the public to engage with authors in the open air, under the villa's trees.
Where and when
The festival takes place in the gardens of Villa Lais, between Via Paolo Albera and Via Cesare Baronio, in the heart of the Appio Latino and Tuscolano district. Admission to all events is free. It is a wonderful opportunity to discover editorial catalogs outside the mainstream circuit and to enjoy a neighborhood green space as a place of shared culture, just a short walk from the city's metro stations.
Villa Lais Legge — edition 2026
The sixth edition of Villa Lais Legge brought the villa's gardens to life from May 28 to 31, 2026, with dozens of independent publishing houses and a packed schedule of presentations, readings, and workshops. Each day was dedicated to a specific theme, from urban storytelling to civic engagement, closing with live music. Admission to all events was free.
Programme Villa Lais Legge 2026
Thursday, May 28
Inauguration at 4:45 PM with EditoriAconfronto, a meeting on the present and future of independent publishing, featuring Della Passarelli (ADEI President), writer Paolo Di Paolo for 'Più libri più liberi', and Patrizia D'Attanasio, director of the magazine 'Leggere:tutti'.
- Focus on urban planning and metropolitan storytelling with Marco Petrella (Si muove la città, Quinto Quarto), Cristina Nadotti (Il turismo che non paga, Edizioni Ambiente), and Federica Andreoni (Mescolanze e turbolenze, Armillaria Edizioni).
Friday, May 29
A day dedicated to "bodies, geographies, and great narratives."
- Donatella Fiacchino — Ciclica (le plurali)
- Cristian Giodice — Squarci (Lorusso Editore)
- Carlo Ruggiero — Ombre in terra straniera (Nova Delphi Libri)
- Diego Zandel — Gli anni di pietra (Voland)
Saturday, May 30
The central theme was imagination and civic engagement.
- Meeting with Valentina Petrini — Il prezzo della libertà (Solferino)
- Presentation of the anthology Inventario dell'attesa (CrunchEd) with Sandro Bonvissuto
- 9:00 PM — Reading by Filippo Gatti dedicated to Flaiano
Sunday, May 31
Concluding focus on "rights, history, and perspectives."
- 11:30 AM — Marianna Aprile presents La Promessa (Rizzoli) with Simona Maggiorelli and Marina Pierlorenzi (ANPI)
- 4:00 PM — Presentations of Il massacro del Circeo (tab edizioni) and Destinazione Parigi by Piero Gobetti (readerforblind)
- 8:00 PM — Musical finale with Rastablanco & Pierfrancesco Cacace
Publishers present in the gardens included: Voland, Exòrma, Nova Delphi, Sinnos, Jimenez Edizioni, Edizioni Ensemble, Radici Edizioni, le plurali editrice, and many others.
Highlights Villa Lais Legge 2026
Prices Villa Lais Legge 2026
Practical information — Villa Lais Legge
Getting there
The Villa Lais gardens are located on Via Paolo Albera, in Rome's Municipio VII (Appio Latino/Tuscolano district). The villa is served by the Furio Camillo and Ponte Lungo stops on Metro Line A, both within easy walking distance, as well as numerous urban bus lines.
Admission
All meetings, readings, and workshops are free of charge.
Tips
The events are held outdoors: we recommend bringing a water bottle on hot days and arriving a few minutes early for the popular evening readings.
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Where does it take place — Villa Lais Legge
Giardini di Villa Lais
Via Paolo Albera, 00181 Roma