The Calabrian city of Vibo Valentia has been named the first ever Italian Book Capital, for 2021, Culture Minister Dario Franceschini announced on Friday. Vibo beat Ariano Arpino, Caltanisetta, Campobasso, Cesena and Pontremoli.

The Calabrian city won because "it has distinguished itself for the quality of the initiatives presented, set out clearly, in which rigour and enthusiasm have been combined," Franceschini said. He said the winning idea had been "to make books enter people's lives in a very powerful way.