From May 18-22, 2023, the 35th edition of the International Book Fair was held in Turin, where for the first time Albania maintained the status of “friendly country” (paese ospite).

At the opening ceremony, they welcomed this event, but also the participation of Albania:

Gennaro Sangiuliano, Minister of Culture of Italy; Alberto Cirio, President of Regione Piedmont; Ignazio La Russa, President of the Senate; Stefano Lorusso, the mayor of Turin; Silvio Viale, President of the Association “Torino, city of the book”; Giulio Biino, President of the Circolo dei Lettori Foundation.

Present at the ceremony, the Minister of Culture Elva Margariti said:

“It has been a long wait, a “beautiful trouble” as our great writer Kadare says, and we could not refuse to accept the invitation to be not just participants, but friends.

It was a very short period to prepare, but at the same time a very big opportunity for us, to show literary Albania.

I have lived in Italy for 16 years and I know very well that it took a lot of work to change our image and I see this invitation as an important station in our journey, which has the finale with membership in the great European family, where geographically and spiritually we have always been a part”.

The Albanian salon was inaugurated with another ceremony, with the participation of singer-songwriter Ermal Meta. Through a greeting video, the writer Ismail Kadare was present at this event.

Albania’s presence was in the attention of all Italian media, which stopped not only at the giant installation at the entrance of pavilion no. 1, but also at the rich program.

At the close of the Salon, the Italian organizers stated that this edition marked a figure of 215 thousand visitors.

Albanian salon

Inspired by “Liza in Wonderland”, this year’s edition was titled “Through the Looking Glass”; a journey between the fantastic and the real; from childhood to the adult world; from the past to the future.

So was the Albanian Salon, inspired by one of the works of our great writer Ismail Kadare, “Chronicle in stone”, designed by ark Matilda Pando and artist Ergys Krisiko.

A salon conceived as a work of art, inviting visitors to enter it and discover literary Albania, which has always offered a European literature, with its stopping stations and obstacles, but with a clear western orientation, which comes from the times of Buzuk and Bogdan, to the authors of the National Renaissance, those of the c. XX and up to the younger generations of writers.

During the 5 days of the Turin Salon there were about 40 activities, promotions of books translated into Italian, panel discussions on contemporary literature with a rich presence of Albanian and Italian authors and researchers, fascinated by the extraordinary Albanian universe.

The list of writers, translators and researchers present at the Albanian Salon is long. Among them were:

Lea Ypi, Ornela Vorpsi, Bashkim Shehu, Ermal Meta, Lucia Nadin, Tom Kuka, Ardian Ndreca, Ardian Kuçuku, Darien Levani, Rita Petro, Fatos Kongoli, Ylljet Aliçka, Durim Taçi, Anilda Ibrahimi, Artur Spanjolli, Stefan Çapaliku, Mimoza Hysa, Diana Kastrati, Liridon Mulaj, Andreas Dushi, Tobias Xhaxhiu, Denada Ndreca, Christan Elia, Nicola Petrazzi, Fabio Rocchi, Sonila Strakosha, etc. The Publications Center for the Diaspora and the Publications Center for Arbëresh were also present with their publications. The Minister of Education and Sports, Evis Kushi, was also present at one of the QBD activities.

Another beautiful moment of the Albanian presence was the evening with Albanian poetry and music, performed by Vikena Kamenica, Kristian Koroveshi and Tobias Xhaxhiu.

The establishment of this salon was made possible thanks to the cooperation of the Ministry of Culture with the National Book and Reading Center, the Association of Albanian Publishers, Regione Puglia, the Albanian Center in Turin, the Faculty of History and Philology , University of Tirana, Albanian Embassy in Rome.