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Monreale named Italian Book Capital 2027

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2026-11-07 09:33 UTC → 2026-11-09 11:44 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Italian Ministry of Culture has officially named Monreale, located in the Metropolitan City of Palermo, as the ‘Capitale Italiana del Libro 2027’ (Italian Book Capital 2027). The city secured the title under the theme ‘Monreale legge il Mondo’ (Monreale Reads the World), emerging as the winner from a selection process involving 31 competing projects from 92 municipalities. During a ceremony in Rome, Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli announced that the winning project was selected unanimously by a jury led by Adriano Monti Buzzetti. The initiative aims to use reading as a tool for social inclusion and intercultural dialogue, connecting the city’s Norman, Arab, and Byzantine heritage with modern technologies. Planned activities include the creation of 50 georeferenced ceramic supports with augmented reality, a multilingual library portal, the ‘Leggo il Duomo’ app, digital storytelling workshops for youth, and creative residencies. The program specifically emphasizes strengthening the role of libraries, expanding reading activities beyond traditional venues, and increasing cultural access for vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and people with disabilities. To support these efforts, the Ministry has confirmed a funding allocation of approximately 500,000 euros. Additionally, the President of the Sicilian Region, Renato Schifani, has announced further regional funding to expand the program and increase its visibility both in Italy and abroad. The project will be implemented through a partnership between the Municipality of Monreale, the Diocese, and the Sicilian ~~Region, which will provide cultural institutions and professional expertise to support the city's cultural legacy.~~ Region. In connection with its cultural development, Monreale has officially joined the Associazione Italiana Città della Ceramica (AiCC). Councilor Nadia Battaglia stated that this move aims to use ceramics as a tool for economic and tourism development while supporting local artisans. Furthermore, the ‘Monreale legge il mondo’ project was presented at the ArtLab 2026 event in Catania.

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