Subiaco is the book capital for 2025

Subiaco is the Italian book capital for next year. "The project presented by Subiaco offers an accurate range of proposals, all aimed at enhancing and disseminating the book project, starting from the revival and restoration of the great library heritage preserved in its territory, up to the use of new technological resources that will allow the new generations to approach a cultural world mostly considered dusty and ancient, which can instead offer them many stimuli and surprises. But this is not the only focus of the project. By uniting past and present, it will be possible to witness the creation of the first book printed in Italy, precisely in Subiaco, in 1465, the original of which has been lost, allowing the first Italian movable type printing press to be materially reconstructed'. These are the motivations that led to Subiaco (Rome) being awarded the title of Italian Book Capital 2025.

It was the Minister of Culture himself, Alessandro Giuli, after announcing the proclamation, who read them out during a press conference at the ministry headquarters in Rome.

"Many initiatives are intended to help people discover, protect and enhance the artistic and architectural riches of the territory, starting with guided visits to museums with innovative audiovisual aids, theatre performances, interaction between libraries, books spoken in the squares, involving teachers and pupils from local schools," reads the motivations of the jury chaired by Gian Arturo Ferrari, adding "all this with the important aim of making the long journey made by books over the centuries known to the new generations, uniting past and future in an interactive and attractive way for all. Only knowledge of the past, in fact, can enlighten us in a new vision of culture as a form of resistance of humanity. Hurray for Subiaco!".

Mayor Domenico Petrini recalled that "Subiaco preserves in its heritage a close bond with the book, and this is mainly thanks to the work that took place as early as the fifth and sixth centuries within the Benedictine monasteries, the first Italian printing press, the first printed book in Italy. "Subiaco will be up to the task, the project is ambitious, it fills us with happiness and pride, and above all it is a sign of the work done over the years, not only in honour of a past history but a present history of spreading culture," Petrini continued, concluding, "to be the Italian Book Capital in the year also of the Jubilee is an even more important recognition and certainly charges us with responsibility.