As part of a national initiative to promote reading among the Italian public, the Ligurian port city of Genoa has been named Italian Book Capital 2023 by the Ministry of Culture. Recognizing the power books and words hold, the naming of the “Italian Book Capital” — which lasts for one year — was inscribed into law on February 13, 2020 (mere weeks before Italy went into lockdown and many lapsed readers picked up the habit again).

The inaugural recipient of the coveted appointment was Chiari (Lombardy), followed by Vibo Valentia (Calabria) in 2021 and, last year, Ivrea (Piedmont). This year, an initial field of 14 nominees was narrowed to six finalists — Genoa, Florence (Tuscany), Lugo (Emilia-Romagna), San Quirico d’Orcia (Tuscany), Nola (Campania) and San Salvo (Abruzzo). Genoa was chosen unanimously by a special commission.