The historic Calabrian town of Vibo Valentia has won the title of Italian “Capitale del Libro” (Capital of Books) for 2021. Following the lines of the UNESCO World Book Day, the prize was introduced a couple of years go by Italian Culture Minister Dario Franceschini with view to sustaining literature, libraries and book events and to promote reading habits among the general public.
Vibo Valentia competed against 23 other towns and came through tops thanks also to its “Festival Leggere e Scrivere” (Festival of Reading and Writing) literary event, running since 2012. The Festival annually attracts thousands and is run under the artistic direction of Gilberto Floriano, who created the local Libraries System – an established focal cultural point throughout the region.
The Capital of Books 20021 award carries with it a government grant of 500,000 euro towards investments in local culture.
Last year's prize went to Chiari in the Province of Brescia, one of the worst hit spots in the Covid epidemic.