The Xarxa de Viles del Llibre, an initiative that brings together territories of Catalonia and Mallorca that believe in the power of literature to set in motion new dynamics of development and tourism, will stop in Barcelona this July. After a first initiative in Bellprat (Anoia), up to 8 festivals are scheduled this year. The ones in L’Escala, Sitges, Cabrils and Manacor have already been made, and the next ones will be on La Rambla in Barcelona (from the 1st to the 3rd of July on Rambla de Santa Mònica and Rambla dels Caputxins), Malgrat de Mar (August 27 and 28), Cervera (September 25), and Piera (October 8 and 9).
According to forecasts from VilaDelLlibre.CAT, the 8 festivals of the network will receive around 34,000 visitors with a forecast of 1,700,000 euros of direct economic impact in the territory and estimated publishing sales of 130,000 euros by the 60 publishers that are expected to participate in the publishing markets during 2022. Each town has a program of literary events designed in line with the particularities of each town where it is held and, as a whole, will offer more than 250 literary proposals (round tables on the books, workshops, shows…) by 300 authors and artists of the industry.
One of the goals of the organization is to make the book an excuse to discover new places for book lovers who travel as cultural tourists attracted by the literary program offered by each town but also offers residents the opportunity to rediscover its most immediate environment and its most recent memory thanks to the books.
The literary program is curated by Sebastià Bennassar and Jordi Puig. With regard to the themes addressed by the different festivals, each territory focuses on an aspect very close to its reality with a program where there is always the presence of local authors, both established and novices. In addition, the Viles are especially attentive to some of the most important literary commemorations: for example, in 2022 we celebrate the Joan Fuster Year, the Gabriel Ferrater Year or the centenary of the Casa dels Clàssics, a publishing house that was born in 1922 and published its first work in 1923.
More information on this link.