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Paper Florence

If Paris can be reckoned a sort of paradise for bibliophiles, because of its ‘bouquinistes’ (characteristics stalls on the parapets of the Seine, from quai Voltaire on the rive gauche to quai du Louvre on the other side), Florence too can offer the enthusiast looking for some good deals, interesting findings among the stands of old books and the antiquarian bookshops.

We can start from the stall in Via Pietrapiana, in the Sant’Ambrogio quarter, close to Piazza de Ciompi and just in front of the Loggia del Pesce and the flea market, where we can find books about the history of Florence, essays, or first editions of the twentieth century as Papini, Prezzolini, Malaparte.

Another stop going to San Lorenzo visiting the New Sagrestia and the Medici Chapels is the historical stand of Via Martelli, in the widening between Galilei high school and the Medici Riccardi Palace, where it’s possible to find old editions of classics.

A few steps ahead, at the bottom of a brief stair, the antiquarian bookshop Giorni is really worth a visit. Another historical stand is that at the corner of the Strozzi Palace, an authentic jewel of the Renaissence architecture, home to the major exhibitions, where it’ s possible to go through art books and exhibition catalogs.

Finally, going back to Republic Square, we can have a quick passage under the arcades, where the oldest stand is located, just near the entrance of the Central Post Office, offering everything, from essays to university books.

For those who can afford it there are also tha antiquarian bookshops, as Gonnelli in Via Ricasoli, Conforti in Via dè Ginori or Salimbeni in Via Matteo Palmieri, where you can stumble into major rarities, even antique prints, or graphic arts.

Dear book loving friends, have fun