The first edition of “La Piazza – San Francisco Italian Literary Festival” concluded with great success, bringing the richness of contemporary Italian literature to the Bay Area and animating some of the city’s most iconic cultural venues over the course of a week.
Consul Davide Corriero, on behalf of Consul General Massimo Carnelos, had the honor of representing the Consulate General at several key events: the opening conversation with Premio Strega 2025 Andrea Bajani in dialogue with Sara Marinelli; the exchange between Federico Rampini and Mauro Aprile Zanetti; and the closing evening at Casa Fugazi with Carlo Lucarelli, a leading voice in Italian noir.
The festival also featured prominent authors and figures of contemporary Italian literature, including Giulia Caminito, Ann Goldstein (translator of Elena Ferrante), Emanuela Anechoum, Matteo B. Bianchi, and Silvia D’Achille. Each event offered fresh perspectives on storytelling, identity, and memory, strengthening the cultural dialogue between Italy and the United States.
Promoted by the Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Italy, the association Librai in Corso, and the Comites of San Francisco, and held under the patronage of the Centro per il Libro e la Lettura (CEPELL) of the Italian Ministry of Culture, the festival was made possible thanks to the support of patron Maria Manetti Shrem, sponsor Romana Bracco, and numerous partners, donors, and members of the Italian-American community.
A key component of the program was La Piazza Kids, which engaged schools across San Francisco and surrounding areas with the support of the Education Office of the Consulate General, highlighting the role of literature in education and intercultural exchange among younger generations.
Events took place in emblematic venues such as the Italian Cultural Institute, the University of California, Davis, Libreria Pino, and the historic Casa Fugazi in North Beach, home to Italian Community Services and Club Fugazi. Through these spaces, La Piazza transformed the Bay Area into a true “piazza” — a place where ideas, languages, and communities come together.
The Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco expresses its great satisfaction for the success of this first edition, which has demonstrated how literature and culture can serve as powerful tools of dialogue and cultural diplomacy.
