Monreale, in the province of Palermo, is the Italian Book Capital 2027. The award, announced today by the Minister of Culture, Alessandro Giuli, in the Spadolini Hall of the Ministry on Via del Collegio Romano, was unanimously voted for by the jury chaired by Adriano Monti Buzzetti and composed of Flavia Maraston, Fulvia Toscano, Gloria Piaggio, and Miguel Gotor.
"The book itself isn't enough, but there are communities, and they are right here before us, that understand this lesson so well that they've organized a cultural program that begins with the book and returns to it, holding citizens from all the surrounding communities by the hand, knowing that a text is made up of as many letters and words as there are souls in the community that participates in the Capital. Writing itself makes sense when it's a tool and vehicle for relationships and dialogue," Giuli emphasized.
The winning project will receive a €500,000 grant from the MIC . "Immense joy, pride, and profound gratitude for our entire community," commented Monreale's mayor, Alberto Arcidiacono, and Councilor for Education, Patrizia Roccamatisi. "Naturally," the councilor emphasized, "we will open our contacts to all the other cities that participated." "Monreale boasts a thousand-year history, and through the 'Monreale reads the world' project, it aims to unite the past with the present, projecting itself into the future through books and reading," stated Sicilian Regional President Renato Schifani.
The 'Monreale Reads the World' project stands out for its high-quality design, strategic coherence, and ability to combine local identity with national and international openness . "Particularly noteworthy are the focus on inclusion and younger generations, the involvement of a broad and qualified local network, the solidity of governance, and the inclusion of structural interventions designed to produce lasting effects," explains the jury's motivation. "The judgment," it emphasizes, "was excellent, despite the presence of other high-quality projects worthy of attention."
The other finalists for the title of Italian Book Capital 2027 were: Chiaromonte (Potenza), Treviso, Nuoro, Pomigliano d'Arco (Naples), Teramo, and Iglesias (Sulcis Iglesiente). Thirty-one applications were submitted, involving 92 municipalities, including through joint projects, confirming the growing focus of local communities on promoting reading and widespread cultural policies.
(Unioneonline)