Segovia is gearing up for the eighth Hay Festival from 26 until 29 October

Segovia will host the Hay Festival this month, a prestigious international literary event which brings together acclaimed authors and artists from around the world.

The beautiful, historic Castilian town is the perfect location for the festival, brimming with beautiful architecture and a rich history to inspire and enchant the writers that come from all over the world to see them. The hub of the festival is the main square, with the Teatro Juan Bravo acting as one of the leading venues, and plenty of charming cafés to relax in during breaks between events.

The thrilling week-long festival hosts an abundance of exhibitions, conversations, performances and screenings which take place in palaces, convents, churches, gardens, courtyards, museums and mansions. Last year Philippa Gregory, author of The Other Bolyn Girl and The White Queen, gave an interview in San Juan de los Caballeros church.

The theme of the 2013 festival is to celebrate the 40-year relationship between China and Spain, including the 2012 Pritzker Architecture Prize-winner Wang Shu in conversation, and an exhibition curated by Fang Zhenning, called Architecture China – The 100 Contemporary Projects.

Programme highlights include Nobel Prize Winner Mario Vargas Llosa, the recently-awarded José Caballero Bonald, Antonio Muñoz Molina and Lorenzo Silva and Daniela Krien, Luís García Montero, Nativel Preciado, Rosa Montero, David Foenkinos, Val McDermid and Lukas Bärfuss, among many others.

For more information about the festival or to book tickets, visit www.hayfestival.com