Villaggio Letterario – Libro Fest
The cultural festival in Ustica blending science, archaeology, and inclusion
About Villaggio Letterario
The Villaggio Letterario of Ustica
The Villaggio Letterario – Libro Fest is a cultural festival held in Ustica, a small volcanic island in the Tyrrhenian Sea located in the province of Palermo (Sicily). Conceived and coordinated by Anna Russolillo, the event is dedicated to the dialogue between science, archaeology, inclusion, and beauty, turning Ustica into a natural stage for a narrative that unites land, sea, and sky.
A journey through the island's iconic sites
The festival brings the most significant sites of Ustica to life: the prehistoric Faraglioni Village, one of the best-preserved Bronze Age settlements in the Mediterranean, the Marine Protected Area, the Carmelo Seminara Archaeological Museum, and the Earth Sciences Museum-Laboratory. These spaces host guided tours, presentations, exhibitions, and workshops, in an itinerary that blends scientific outreach with heritage promotion.
Inclusion and accessibility
A distinctive feature of the festival is its focus on inclusion: every edition offers educational and recreational activities designed for children with and without visual impairments, such as the Lego Braille workshop, created with the contribution of typhlologists and educators. The "do not touch is forbidden" principle transforms the cultural experience into a sensory journey open to everyone.
Archaeology and the Mediterranean
The common thread of the festival is the ancient bond between Mediterranean islands. Recurring highlights include the presentation of the "Bronze Age Mediterranean Routes," which connects Ustica to the Campanian islands of Procida and Vivara, and the traveling exhibition "The Black Gold of the Mediterranean. Obsidian in Prehistory", curated by Franco Foresta Martin and Anna Russolillo, which recounts the trade of this precious volcanic stone.
Tradition, taste, and the starry sky
Alongside culture, the Villaggio Letterario offers convivial moments with tastings of typical island products, from Ustica sweets to limoncello, and astronomy evenings under the island's clear sky. Admission to all events is free, confirming the educational and popular vocation of the festival, which attracts enthusiasts, scholars, and curious visitors to the heart of the Tyrrhenian Sea every year.
Villaggio Letterario — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of the Villaggio Letterario – Libro Fest brought Ustica to life over the weekend of June 27-29. On Friday the 27th, at the Marine Protected Area, the cultural itinerary "Bronze Age Mediterranean Routes" dedicated to the islands of Ustica, Procida, and Vivara was presented, followed by a tasting of Ustica sweets and Procida limoncello; in the afternoon, a guided tour of the Faraglioni Village and, at the Seminara Archaeological Museum, the inauguration of the "Easy Prehistory" exhibition. Saturday the 28th featured the inclusive workshop "Poseidon's Hand with Lego Braille". Sunday the 29th, at the Faraglioni Village, a guided tour with the Kyme archaeological group and the inauguration of the 8th stage of the exhibition "The Black Gold of the Mediterranean. Obsidian in Prehistory".
Programme Villaggio Letterario 2026
Friday, June 27
- 11:00 AM – Marine Protected Area: presentation of the itinerary "Bronze Age Mediterranean Routes" (Ustica, Procida, Vivara) and tasting of Ustica sweets and Procida limoncello
- 6:00 PM – Guided tour of the Faraglioni Village
- Evening – Seminara Archaeological Museum: inauguration of the exhibition "Easy Prehistory. The islands of Sicily and Campania in the Bronze Age"
Saturday, June 28
- From 11:00 AM – Marine Protected Area: inclusive workshop "Poseidon's Hand with Lego Braille", educational and recreational activity for children with and without visual impairments
Sunday, June 29
- 6:00 PM – Faraglioni Village: guided tour and workshop with the Kyme archaeological group
- 8:00 PM – Faraglioni Village: inauguration of the 8th stage of the traveling exhibition "The Black Gold of the Mediterranean. Obsidian in Prehistory", curated by Franco Foresta Martin and Anna Russolillo
Highlights Villaggio Letterario 2026
- Presentation of the "Bronze Age Mediterranean Routes" itinerary
- Inclusive workshop with Lego Braille
- Exhibition "The Black Gold of the Mediterranean. Obsidian in Prehistory"
- Guided tours of the prehistoric Faraglioni Village
- Tasting of typical products from Ustica and Procida
Prices Villaggio Letterario 2026
Practical information — Villaggio Letterario
How to get there
Ustica can be reached from Palermo by hydrofoil (approx. 1 hour and 20 minutes) or ferry (approx. 2 hours and 30 minutes) from the port of Palermo. The departure port is served by trains and buses from the central station of Palermo.
On-site
The island is compact, and most of the festival sites (Marine Protected Area, Archaeological Museum, Faraglioni Village) are within walking distance or a short trip away.
Admission
Participation in all events is free. Reservations are recommended for guided tours and workshops.
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Where does it take place — Villaggio Letterario
Villaggio preistorico dei Faraglioni