Palazzo San Gervasio Leads “Le trame del Bradano” Bid for Italian Book

Palazzo San Gervasio Leads “Le trame del Bradano” Bid for Italian Book Capital 2027

Sixteen municipalities in Basilicata have joined forces under the leadership of Palazzo San Gervasio to submit the “Le trame del Bradano” project for the Italian Book Capital 2027 competition. The initiative, promoted within the Ministry of Culture’s call, aims to promote reading as a tool for social cohesion, inclusion and cultural development.

The network brings together towns from the Alto Bradano and Melfese areas, with Potenza and Matera participating as key pillars rather than mere partners.

• Acerenza
• Banzi
• Cancellara
• Forenza
• Genzano di Lucania
• Maschito
• Montemilone
• Oppido Lucano
• San Chirico Nuovo
• Tolve
• Ginestra
• Melfi
• Venosa
• Lavello
• Potenza
• Matera

The stated objectives include strengthening reading practices across all ages, engaging young people and groups at risk of exclusion (elderly, disabled), and fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the cultural and creative sectors. The project also seeks to increase the number of readers and enhance the social standing of books within local communities.

Procedurally, the candidacies will be reviewed by a jury on 30 June 2026, while the deadline for submitting proposals was set at sixty days from the publication of the call (17 February 2026).

Palazzo San Gervasio’s bid is an example of territorial cultural planning that aims to make reading a lever for social and economic regeneration in small Lucanian towns.