Fossacesia bids for Italian Book Capital 2027

The Municipality of Fossacesia has officially launched its bid for the Italian Book Capital 2027 with the project titled “Le Macchine da Pesca – Narration, Sea and Community on the Costa dei Trabocchi”. Approved by the municipal council and presented within the Ministry of Culture’s programme, the proposal focuses on reading, storytelling and the local identity linked to the trabocchi.

The initiative involves Cultural Councillor Maura Sgrignuoli and the association APS “I Trabocchi” as operational partner. There are 31 national bids involving 92 municipalities; Abruzzo has five nominations, underscoring the region's active cultural engagement.

• Goals: enhance local identity, promote reading and encourage community participation;
• Planned activities: literary festivals, author talks, readings on the trabocchi, school programmes, educational sea-related paths and events along the Via Verde;
• Infrastructure: reconstruction of the “Trabocco della Scogliera” in front of the Piazzetta dei Pescatori to serve as a permanent cultural hub.

According to the announced timetable, dossiers will be assessed by a jury of five independent experts: by 30 June 2026 the ten finalist projects will be announced and by 31 July 2026 the Minister of Culture will officially declare the winning city for 2027. The project emphasizes local associations’ and citizens’ active participation to transform the trabocchi heritage into a sustainable cultural and tourism asset.