by InTrieste
Interview: Michela Zin, director Pordenonelegge; Robert Perisic, author; Francesco de Filippo, author
Each September, the city of Pordenone transforms into an open-air stage for writers, thinkers, and readers from around the world. Now in its 26th year, Pordenonelegge has become one of Italy’s most distinctive literary festivals, combining the intimacy of a community event with the reach of an international forum.
The festival, often described as a “city of books,” fills Pordenone’s streets, theaters, and piazzas with debates, readings, and conversations. What sets it apart, organizers say, is not only its wide-ranging program — spanning literature, politics, philosophy, science, and the arts — but its emphasis on freedom of thought and dialogue.
From Nobel laureates and established authors to emerging voices, the guest list underscores the festival’s role as both a showcase and a crossroads.
Yet for all its international scope, Pordenonelegge remains deeply rooted in its community. Volunteers in bright yellow shirts — known as the festival’s unmistakable symbol — guide visitors from venue to venue, while local shops and cafés take on the atmosphere of an extended literary salon.
With Pordenone set to share the title of Italian Capital of Culture in 2027, the festival has gained new prominence as a preview of the city’s cultural ambitions. But its essence remains unchanged: a belief that books are not just to be read, but to be lived, debated, and celebrated in the public square.
