CULTURE Milan, Capital of Books

By Daniel Reichel

From November 16 to November 19, Bookcity, the event devoted to books and authors, is coming back to Milan. “Bookcity – declared the mayor of Milan Giuseppe Sala during the press conference held in Palazzo Marino – is undoubtedly one of the most important events in our city. With its sessions spread all over the city, it celebrates the strong and lasting passion for books and reading. Bookcity is capable of talking about the past as well as dealing with current issues. This year, for the first time, a section entitled Equal Opportunities will be held: it will focus on how the lives of women have changed through the decades”.

More than 200 venues will host more than 1000 events during the four-day Festival.

“Bookcity is the popular, metropolitan festival of books and reading, the result of a collective work in which everyone plays their part to create the program”, explained the member of the city council in charge of Culture, Filippo Del Corno, at the press conference. Speaking at the press conference were, in addition to the mayor, the president of the Bookcity 2017 edition Luca Formenton, the president of the Corriere della Sera Foundation Piergaetano Marchetti and the president of AIE (Association of Italian Publishers) Riccardo Franco Levi.

In his speech, Franco Levi stressed that “publishing is Italy’s first cultural industry”. He also mentioned the spring book fair Tempo di Libri, which was started last year in Milan. “Tempo di Libri will be staged from 8 to 12 March and we are working to make the Fair a twin with Frankfurt”.