The Salone Internazionale del Libro is held every year in May at Lingotto Fiere in Torino, at Via Nizza 280. It is the most important publishing event in Italy and one of the leading ones in the world, with over 300,000 visitors crowding the publishers' stands, author presentations and workshops for kids.
Founded in 1988, the Salone has weathered periods of crisis and rebirth, and is today stronger than ever. The annual edition hosts hundreds of publishers, both Italian and international, from publishing giants to small independent houses. Each year a guest country brings its own literary tradition, building a cultural bridge that enriches the programme.
The events programme is vast: more than 1,500 sessions in five days. Author talks, debates on current affairs, writing workshops, theatre performances and concerts run from morning to evening. To find your way around, it's worth downloading the official app and planning your days in advance.
Torino during the Salone has a unique atmosphere. The literary cafés in the centre organise side events, independent bookshops host signings, and restaurants create menus inspired by literature. For those visiting the city in this period, it is the perfect chance to combine the fair with discovering Torino: a private walking tour in the morning and the Salone in the afternoon.
The Lingotto itself is worth a visit: the former FIAT factory, converted by Renzo Piano, is a masterpiece of industrial architecture with its famous test track on the roof, today turned into a panoramic terrace.