C‘It’s a time in which stories want to leave the pages, walk among people, breathe in the scent of coffee and mingle with the clinking of glasses. That time is November, that place is Verona, and that opportunity is Bookwalk, the first convivial literary festival widespread in the city. From the From 12th to 18th November, the books will not remain on the shelvesi: they will enter the cafés, restaurants and historic venues of Verona to meet the people there where life happens, around a tableor. A new way of experiencing literature: intimate, urban, authentic. It is the first time in Italy.
The theme of Bookwalk, “Without roots you can’t fly”
Bookwalk, whose common thread of this first year is the theme “without roots you can’t fly”, combines culture and conviviality, roots and vision. Seven days of appointments and thirty writers to rediscover the pleasure of reading and listening, in a slow rhythm, between poignant coffees, royal teas, dinners with the author, literary aperitifs, brunches and reading partiesup to a conference on publishing and a sensorial writing workshop.
The idea of the writer Anna Martellato
Bookwalk was born from an idea by the journalist and writer Anna Martellato, and it is a reality thanks to the support and collaboration of Food Democracy, which is also the organizer, the restaurant group led by Michael Cortellettialways a promoter of culture, conviviality and valorisation of the talents and places of Verona.
«We bring literature where life happens, in cafes, clubs, restaurants, at the tables where people really meet. I invite you to come and see what happens when we put a writer and a reader at the same height, without stages, without distance: something alive happens. Without roots you can’t fly is the common thread of this first of three editions: we celebrate our stories as living roots. We don’t celebrate books: we live them. This is why those who come do not attend, but participate” underlines the writer.
One festival, many voices
Antonio Caprarica will open Bookwalk Verona with the High Royal Tea
Thirty authors in seven days: from well-known names in fiction such as Wanda Marasco, winner of the Campiello Prize, Cristina Caboni, Simone Tempia, Romina Casagrande and, arriving from the USA, David Blixt, up to the new signatures of Italian fiction.
Among the new features: the High Royal Tea dedicated to “real” authors hosted by iO Donna journalist, Michaela K. Bellisario. A conversation in the living room over scones, sandwiches and a cup of tea.
Among the guests: Antonio Caprarica (Kate and the Curse of Wales, Sperling)Paola Calvetti (the secret of the swanMondadori), Lavinia Orefici (Royal Saga, Piemme), Marina Minelli (The Queen’s jewels), Elisa Motterle (Bon ton pop. Contemporary etiquette manual for improving oneself and living well with others, HarperCollins)Annalisa Angelone (Diana Spencer, Death, myth and mysteriesPolidoro), Fabio Pozzo (I stole from the King of England. Tea) and Silvia Montemurro (Villa Carlotta, Joints), authors of books on royal characters.
Next to them, journalists, editors, teachers and talent scouts in the conference “The quality of lightness: information and publishing between marketing and content”, organized in collaboration with the Department of Cultures and Civilizations of the University of Verona and accredited as a training course by the Order of Journalists.
The words and the places
Casa Mazzanti Coffee in Piazza Erbe, la Futurist Room of the Olivo1939 restaurant and historic venues such as Empire, La Costa in Bra, Other Empire and the evocative King Theodoric will become living scenarios, where the stories and the authors meet the readers and intertwine with the scents and atmospheres of Verona.
Michael Cortelletti, Food Democracy and organizer of the event: «We have chosen to open our doors to literature because we believe in a democratic, accessible festival that is truly experienced: sitting at a table, sharing a dish, a glass, a story. Verona has a tradition of hospitality and sociability which is part of its deepest identity; with Bookwalk this identity is renewed, expanded and contaminated with stories.
For us it is a concrete commitment, but also a sincere enthusiasm: when culture is intertwined with daily life, something beautiful happens. And we are here to make it happen.”
A three-year journey
Bookwalk is a three-year project (2025–2027) which starts from the roots and reaches the flight. The theme of this first edition, “Without roots you can’t fly”, celebrates belonging, memory and the power of words.
The symbol chosen is the semicolon: a sign of reflection, pause and rebirth. Like stories and, ultimately, also life.
The festival is possible thanks to the support of AGSM AIM, main partner of the initiative, who shares the vision of an energy capable of illuminating even words. Alongside them, Inlingua Verona, sponsor of the entire festival, and a network of travel partners – artisans, bookshops and local businesses – who contribute with care and passion to making each event unique. Present, as the only publishing house, Neri Pozza.
«The place is a physical and relational space that contributes to defining the culture and identity of a community, while culture is expressed and transmitted through the spaces that people occupy and “inhabit”. A traveling, widespread, shared event like this is for these reasons a highly cultural event and deserves the support of institutions, book market operators and readers themselves” explains Andrea Falracco, CEO of Neri Pozza, Bookwalk’s partner publishing house.