Florence’s second-smallest bookshop opens in Santo Spirito

A small independent bookshop will open on 29 November in Via dei Serragli, in Florence’s Oltrarno district. The project, created by La città dei lettori, the organisation behind a series of literary festivals across Tuscany, is presented as the “second-smallest bookshop in Florence”, a phrase used ironically to underline that the focus is on content rather than size.

The space aims to serve as a meeting point for readers, with a programme of small events and a single armchair made of recycled paper for informal conversations. Organisers say the intention is to create a simple refuge devoted entirely to reading, after years of itinerant cultural activity across the region.

One distinctive element is the introduction of a buchetta del libro. The idea takes inspiration from Florence’s buchette del vino, the tiny Renaissance windows once used to sell wine directly from private palaces and still visible across the historic centre. In this case, the opening will be used to hand over books rather than drinks, emphasising the shop’s strictly literary identity.

The new venue will offer only books and shelves, with no café, bar or wine service. This choice sets it apart from many hybrid cultural spaces in the city, where food and drink are often part of the experience.

The bookshop will be open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., with occasional additional openings announced at short notice. The inauguration is scheduled for 29 November.

(The cover image was generated using artificial intelligence)

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