by Maximiliano Crocamo
Interview: President of the Monfalcone Cultural Consortium Davide Iannis
Friuli Venezia Giulia, one of Italy’s most literate regions, is celebrating the tenth anniversary of LeggiAMO 0–18 FVG, a program dedicated to promoting reading from early childhood through adolescence. Supported by the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, the initiative has built a strong network of schools, libraries, and cultural institutions that collaborate year-round to foster a love of books.
The highlight of the anniversary is Un libro lungo un giorno — A Book as Long as a Day — scheduled for Friday, October 31. The annual event, held on the last Friday of October, invites residents across the region to dedicate part of their day to reading and to share their experiences on social media using the hashtags #unlibrolungoungiorno and #ullug. Hundreds of public and private events are planned, from Trieste’s seaside to the mountain towns of the Carnic Alps, uniting readers of all ages.
“Reading means learning and traveling,” said Mario Anzil, the region’s vice president and councillor for culture and sport. “It’s a simple act that opens worlds and makes us more aware citizens. Through LeggiAMO, we are building a shared network that connects students, families, and communities.”
Since its creation in 2014, LeggiAMO 0–18 has reached tens of thousands of students and teachers across Friuli Venezia Giulia. The initiative is supported by partners including the Italian Library Association, Damatrà Onlus, and the Monfalcone Cultural Consortium.
To mark the anniversary, Trieste’s Magazzino delle Idee will host LeggiAMO! Ritratti di una regione che cresce leggendo, a photographic exhibition featuring portraits of regional readers captured by photographer Alice Durigatto. The images portray teachers, librarians, students, and community members with their favorite books.
The program will also include an event with Giuseppe Iannaccone, president of Italy’s Center for Books and Reading (CEPELL), who will meet students in Trieste to launch the 2025–26 edition of LeggiAMO a scuola, a campaign encouraging children to spend 15 minutes each day reading for pleasure.
Among the authors serving as ambassadors for this year’s Giornata della Lettura are Federica Manzon, Enrico Galiano, Andrea Maggi, and Gian Mario Villalta. Their recorded messages about their favorite books will be shared on the project’s social channels.
Special events are also planned for younger audiences, including an appearance by Francesco Tullio Altan, the illustrator and creator of La Pimpa, who will meet children and families at the Civic Library in Grado.
Over the years, LeggiAMO 0–18 has helped position Friuli Venezia Giulia as a model for reading promotion in Italy — a region where, for one day each autumn, books and readers come together to celebrate the power of stories.
