For all the students studying in Florence this year you will be need of books. I have a list of the bookstores that can assist you in purchasing an art history book and/or a verb dictionary for your Italian language course. As your school might provide you with the books you need for school, many others send you to a local bookshop to purchase your books.
BM Bookshop
BM Bookshop has been around 1963 although I consider this a new treasure of a bookshop. I recently found it on a quiet street intersecting Piazza Ognissanti where the river Arno seems to jump out at you. The books available to you are like the store, rare. Every time I entered this little hole in the wall, I am the only one perusing the merchandise. The woman that works inside is very friendly and helpful. The difference between the larger bookstores and BM, you are assisted kindly with every title you are looking for. Anything you are in need of, you will be able to find it here. From art history, cooking, architecture, translations from Italian authors. You can find the books that you wouldn’t normally find in the larger stores. There are always sales as well at BM, travel along the river Arno until you see the Westin and the Grand Hotel facing each other in Piazza Ognissanti. Borgo Ognissanti will bring you to the bookshop that is authentic Florence.
BM BOOKSHOP
Borgognissanti, 4/r
50123 Florence, Italy
Tel & fax: +39 055 294575
(Mon-Sat 9.30am 7.30pm)
Info: bmbookshop@dada.it
Web: bmbookshop.com
Paperback Exchange
Paperback Exchange started back 1979 and since been a token bookstore in Florence for students. A small family business that has flourished over the years, brings a friendly feel to the city center. Sitting at the end of Via delle Oche, Paperback Exchange lures the unexpected tourists in by it’s big windows of the latest book releases and most popular art history. Students are assisted by the helpful staff who speak English, if you forget the name of the book you need to purchase there is a list of the schools who use the Paperback Exchange that sell the textbooks to their students. Although they are not divided by professor, just by school name. Just ask a kind assistant.
Paperback Exchange
Via delle Oche, 4Red
50122 Firenze, Italy
Email: papex@papex.it
Phone: +39.055.293460
Fax: +39.055.2658395
Italian bookshops in Florence
The three Italian bookstores listed below have a large section of all books both in Italian and English. They are much bigger than the little shops above and are a bit more crowded. If you know exactly what book you need and where to find it, these are the bookstores to enter. As the assistants here are a bit more busy than the ones at the smaller ones, but it never hurts to ask one of them if you need some guidance. These bookshops are great if you want to not be bothered, to sit and read an excerpt of a book. Couches are spread throughout the store and Edison has a great cafe on the second floor where you can enjoy an espresso or cappuccino with your book. Here are the addresses of each of these larger stores in guiding you to the right book selection for you, either for school or for pleasure.
Mel Bookstore
Via de’ Cerretani, 16r
Phone: +39 055.287339
Fax: +39 055.215195
Info: melfirenze@melbookstore.it
La Feltrinelli International
Via Cavour, 12 – 50129 Florence FI
La Feltrinelli Librerie
Via de’ Cerretani, 30/32r – 50123 Florence FI
web: lafeltrinelli.it
Edison Bookstore
Piazza Repubblica 27/R – 50123 Florence FI
Phone: +39 055-213-110
Photo of book store in Florence, Italy by Rosino
Topic: Top five Monday |
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Tags: books, Florence
About the author
Katie has a true obsession with Italy and she has lived in Florence on and off for the past 5 years. She has been a tourist, vacationer, student, and an au pair. All of these experiences have made her into the person she is today. This is a place she documents her life with her own thoughts and audacious lifestyle: http://www.katerinafiore.com
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