The fourth edition of the Sparone Offshore Book Festival, scheduled for Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 June 2025, is just around the corner. This year, the event focuses on the themes of “Roots, Migrations and Restanza”, uniting the mountain lands of the Orco Valley and emphasizing the role of women in this context.

The festival is proposed as a journey to discover and promote the territory of the Orco Valley , and will take place among the alleys and arcades of the medieval historic center of Sparone, ensuring accessibility to all. The entire community actively participates, with restaurants and shops welcoming the initiative and the inhabitants offering themselves as volunteers.

Among the book presentations, texts that deal with the return to the mountains and the concept of “restanza” stand out. These meetings will offer ideas for dialogue and in-depth analysis on current issues, including the effects of climate change.

The program also includes a photographic exhibition entitled “Restanza”, curated by Monica Bruno, which through images of landscapes and atmospheres of other times, explores the cultural roots of a rural Italy that resists change.

There will be no shortage of activities for families, with workshops dedicated to children to be held on Sundays in the historic center.

The festival, curated by the Sparone nel Cuor e Association, emphasizes the importance of collaboration between libraries and social realities for the future of mountain villages, promoting job opportunities, leisure activities and a solid social fabric to encourage “restanza”.

Festival Program

Saturday 28 June

• 10-12 a.m. – In the streets of the center: Market of used school books
• 4 pm – Stella d’Italia Cafeteria: Presentation of the exhibition “Restanza” by Monica Bruno
• 5 p.m . – Stella d’Italia Cafeteria: Presentation of the book “La valle delle donne” by Assunta Prato with Riccarda Viglino. In collaboration with the Municipal Library of Ronco Canavese
• 8.45 p.m. – Multipurpose hall: Round table “Women guardians of the land” and final tasting of products from local farms

Sunday, June 29

• Throughout the day – In the streets of the historic center: Stands of bookstores, libraries, hobbies, associations and folk groups in the area
• 10.30 a.m. – Piazza della Chiesa: Presentation of the book “Vertical migrations: will the mountain save us?” by Andrea Membretti – with the participation of Thiago Dalla – Migrations from Brazil
• 10 a.m.-5 p.m. – Medieval arcades:
  • Papier-mâché workshops by Elisart by Elisa Tasselli
  • Seed workshop with the Piccolo Carro Onlus association of Chiaverano
  • Origami by the origamist Maria Teresa Nora
  • Embroidery Workshop by Patrizia Querio
  • Reading workshop by Maria Grazia Pezzetto
• 2.30 p.m. – Piazza della Chiesa: History of a mountain library: Ca’ del Meist di Ceresole Reale by the Amici del Gran Paradiso Association
• 3 pm – Piazza della Chiesa: Presentation of the book “Montagne di Mezzo” by Mauro Varotto
• 5-6 p.m. – Historic center: Closing concert with Corale Armonia and Corale di Bairo