20 June-21 July. Letterature – Festival Internazionale di Roma returns to its traditional venue at the Basilica di Massenzio in the Roman Forum, taking place over eight evenings from 20 June-21 July.

The popular initiative celebrates the written word with a host of internationally acclaimed authors who are invited to write a text inspired by a chosen theme, which this year is Scrittori/Lettori: I banditi delle parole, composed especially for the event.

The 16th edition of the annual literature festival features a line-up of award-winning Italian and international authors who will read from their work, supported by actors and live music.

The international aspect of the programme includes Libya's Hisham Matar; India's Amitav Ghosh; Ireland's Colm Tóibín; Germany's Jenny Erpenbeck; Hungary's László Krasznahorkai, Vietman-American Viet Thanh Nguyen, and Britain's Lisa Hilton, Ali Smith and Hanif Kureishi.

Entry is free but tickets must be picked up before the readings begin, from 20.00, at a designated booth on Via dei Fori Imperiali. Tickets are provided on a first-come, first-served basis, and readings take place at 21.00, with access to the Basilica from 20.30.

In addition to the Roman Forum venue, numerous parallel events take place at the Casa delle Letterature, including the exhibition Fiori scarlatti. Manguste. E Volo Notturno, open from 8 June, with works by Elisa Montessori inspired by the poetry of Emily Dickinson, Marianne Moore and Ingeborg Bachmann.

For information tel. 060608 or see festival website.