A new Rollbox has opened in Sant’Ambrogio, giving analogue photography enthusiasts a convenient place to drop off their film rolls for development and scanning. The service is now available inside Coffee Mantra, at via della Mattonaia 24/r on the corner with Borgo La Croce 71/r, in one of the neighbourhood’s busiest streets.
Rollbox is a service created by a group of local photography enthusiasts to simplify film processing at a time when many traditional labs have disappeared. The system is straightforward: customers place their exposed rolls in the dedicated box, fill out a short form and receive scans and development within a few days. Orders are handled by a partner laboratory and returned digitally, with physical negatives available for pick-up.
The initiative has grown steadily across Florence in recent years. According to the project’s description, Rollbox aims to keep analogue photography accessible by offering predictable turnaround times and transparent pricing. The boxes are hosted in bookshops, bars and creative spaces, reflecting the renewed interest in film among students, artists and long-term residents.
The new Sant’Ambrogio location is expected to appeal to people living or studying in the eastern part of the historic centre, where many carry film cameras on walks through Piazza Ghiberti, the Sant’Ambrogio market and the streets around Santa Croce.
Practical information
- Location: Coffee Mantra, via della Mattonaia 24/r (corner with Borgo La Croce 71/r).
- Service: Drop off 35mm and 120 film for development and scanning.
- Turnaround: Typically a few days, depending on volume.
- Notes: Full details, prices and delivery options are available through Rollbox’s official channels.
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Eirini Lavrentiadou is an actress and singer, born in Thessaloniki in 1992. She lives in Florence, where she trained at the city’s Theatre Academy and the Fiesole School of Music. She has performed in classical Greek and European plays, worked with international directors and companies, and appeared in concerts ranging from opera to jazz. She contributes to Florence Daily News as a writer.