A project between culture and territory finds a home and bookshop in the Castelli del Ducato circuit. La Valle dei Libri, the largest and most widespread bookshop in the world, which has opened its special location in the heart of the Trebbia Valley, between history and scenic beauty, in the Borgo del Castello di Rivalta, in Emilia, in the Castelli del Ducato circuit. To save books from private collections from oblivion.
A book, a face, a story: what does it mean? The book is the one you have in your hands, purchased or received as a gift. The face is our face with the nose and eyes in the pages. History is the plot told that meets our experience. But what happens if a book is lined up, stacked ready to end up in the pulp because the libraries are packed, the attics and cellars of the owners are full to be cleared, the markets and the troubadours very nice, but it takes time to follow them: what happens? What is the grand finale of a book and how to give it new life? You have to find a way to entrust it to a new reader and you could be next, because we are talking about books read, preserved and loved by someone – intellectuals, writers and professionals in their private collections – someone who can no longer keep them with him.
Where to take them and where to find them? In La Valle dei Libri, the largest and most widespread bookshop in the world, which has opened its special location in the heart of the Trebbia Valley, between history and scenic beauty, in the Borgo del Castello di Rivalta, in Emilia, in the circuit Castles of the Duchy. The first to donate was Carlo De Benedetti’s family: 3000 volumes. Today La Valle dei Libri has 70 thousand.
It is a cultural initiative of international scope welcomed by Count Orazio Zanardi Landi, president of the Castelli del Ducato circuit, conceived by journalists Giangiacomo Schiavi, columnist for the Corriere della Sera, and Lanfranco Vaccari, former director of L’Europeo and Secolo XIX, correspondent of the Sole 24 ore and the Corriere della Sera: it is a A project that aims to create the first widespread bookshop in the world, intertwining books, history and promotion of the territory. Inspired by experiences such as Montolieu (France) and Hay-on-Wye (Wales), the Valley of Books is a territorial marketing operation with the aim of creating a network that unites culture and territory, attracting tourists and saving books from oblivion.
Castles of the Duchy, The Valley of Books and Rivalta Castle network: a bridge of words between past and future. And on the other hand we are on the Trebbia river.
But La Valle dei Libri is much more than just a network of “bookstores”: it is a model of sustainable development. Alongside the volumes, the project aims to create job opportunities for young people, artisans and local artists, transforming the spaces into lively cultural centers with laboratories, events, courses and workshops.
The very first event in the carnet is scheduled for Saturday 8 March 2025 at the Castle of Rivalta. In fact, “Forme” is inaugurated, a bookshop entirely dedicated to art, architecture, design and fashion. Forme will not be just a bookcase, but an invitation to explore beauty, in all its expressions.
A journey through the pages of unique volumes. It will be active on weekends: Saturday from 10 to 18 and Sunday from 10 to 16.
Information: info@castellidelducato.it
