2024 edition of Rome's open-air literature festival will be held in Stadio Palatino.

Rome's free international literature festival returns this summer in the spectacular open-air setting of the Palatine Hill over five evenings from 7-16 July.

The prestigious literary event features a host of award-winning Italian and international authors who will read from their work, supported by actors, acrobats, live music and light effects.

The 23rd edition of the festival will see authors read new texts written especially for the festival, inspired by the 2024 theme - Questa è la Storia - a tribute to the celebrated Italian writer Elsa Morante who died in 1985.

This year's festival comes 50 years after the publication of Morante's acclaimed novel La Storia, about the struggles of a half-Jewish widow and her sons in Rome during and after world war two.

Questa è la Storia. Omaggio a #ElsaMorante. Dal 7/7 torna il #FestivalDelleLetterature: 5 serate a ingresso #gratuito nello splendido scenario dello #StadioPalatino con protagonisti autori italiani e internazionali
Appuntamento il 7, 9, 11, 13 e 16/7
https://t.co/MDiYQqkG6e pic.twitter.com/euZQl0qNN6

— Roma (@Roma) July 1, 2024

The festival's guests this year include Alicia Giménez Bartlett, the Spanish writer famed for her series of detective novels with protagonist Petra Delicado; Paul Lynch, the Irish novelist whose most recent novel, Prophet Song, won the 2023 Booker Prize; and Peter Cameron, the American writer best known for his novel Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You.

Situated on the eastern side of the Domus Flavia-Augustana, the sunken Palatine Stadium was built by Emperor Domitian in the late first century AD.

Letterature is once again curated by Simona Cives, head of Rome's Casa delle Letterature, with events taking place on 7, 9, 11, 13 and 16 July.

The festival is organised by the Istituzione Biblioteche di Roma in collaboration with the city and the Parco archeologico del Colosseo.

All Letterature events are free of charge, subject to availability, with tickets distributed on the night from 20.00.

Events begin at 21.00, with access to the Palatine Stadium from 20.30. Photo Roma Capitale.