This year's edition of the Pula literary festival leaves behind not only meetings and reflections, but also the awareness that culture can become a concrete tool for experiencing the region in a new way. This is the message of Pula Letteraria 2026 , which once again brought books, authors, ideas, and an audience to the evocative setting of Pula's archaeological site.
The theme chosen for this edition was the journey . Not just a journey of places to visit and horizons to discover, but above all an inner journey, a path of the soul and an introspective quest. A journey through the words and stories of the guests, who invited the audience to pause, listen, and reflect.
Making the program even more special was the presence of Dario Vergassola , who brought his signature biting wit to the stage without sacrificing depth. With intelligence and light-heartedness, Vergassola engaged the audience, leading them through an unexpected reflection, demonstrating once again how irony can be a key to addressing important issues.
But the value of the event, for the municipal administration, goes beyond individual evenings. Pula Letteraria is part of a broader strategy of cultural promotion and enhancement of the area, aiming to create opportunities for participation even outside the traditional tourist season.
"The investments in culture allocated by the Municipality make possible a real and significant deseasonalization of the tourist offering," recalls Mayor Walter Cabasino , underlining how the administration's cultural policy is not aimed exclusively at visitors, but first and foremost at the community.
"These same investments," the mayor adds, "aim to increase community well-being and make high-level events accessible to all, promoting quality socializing."
And it is precisely the relationship between culture, people, and places that is one of the central elements of the Pula Letteraria experience. The choice of the archaeological site as a space for meetings is not just a suggestive setting, but becomes an integral part of the event.
“We have transformed an enchanted place into an oasis where we can stop time, listen, reflect and let ourselves be lulled by the beauty of words,” declared Councillor for Culture Manuela Serra .
A phrase that sums up the spirit of the festival: to restore a lived, contemporary, and accessible dimension to cultural heritage, creating a dialogue between the history of the place and the stories told by the guests. The archaeological ruins thus become a space where time seems to slow down and where culture can be shared without barriers.
For Councilor Serra, the festival also represents a way to strengthen the relationship between citizens and their local area, offering opportunities for encounters and cultural growth. Culture, from this perspective, is not just spectacle or entertainment, but a force for community building.
At the end of the event, the municipal administration wanted to thank everyone who contributed to the realization of the 2026 edition.
To the guests, the authors, for sharing stories, ideas, and food for thought; to the audience, whose curiosity and enthusiasm are the true driving force behind the event; and to the organizing team, starting with the Pula Cultura Diffusa Foundation , its president, its director, and the entire Board of Directors.
Thanks were also extended to the volunteers, partners, supporters, and sponsors, whose contributions allow us to continue investing in a project that aims to make culture a stable element of community life and a resource for the region.
Pula Letteraria 2026 thus concludes on a positive note and with the desire to continue a journey already underway. A festival that, through literature and discussion, seeks to connect people, ideas, and places, transforming the archaeological site for a few days into a space for listening and participation.