I lived in Italy for a month and a half. I lived in Rome for a whole month and it was a dream come true.
Rome is such a stunning city! The city is surrounded by history, there’s something new to learn from every corner you take. There are many places in Rome that are worth visiting if you’re a bookworm. You can visit iconic sights like the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, or take a tour around the city visiting the churches mentioned in Dan Brown’s books.
As a mythology enthusiast, I was fangirling every single day I lived in Rome. The city was truly magical.
Of course, I got the chance to explore many bookstores! Here are four of the best bookstores I visited while in Rome.
Otherwise
Otherwise is a cute little bookshop located in the city center. It is a short walking distance from the famous Piazza Navona.
This shop sells only books in English, so it is perfect for those that don’t know any Italian. I visited on a weekday, and the place was practically empty. The guy at the cashier greeted me and then focused on the book he was reading. As a socially anxious person, this is everything I could have hoped for 😅.
The shop had a great selection of fiction novels of all genres, and a smaller (but still good) selection of non-fiction books. Plus the shop sold other stuff like cool posters, notebooks, and postcards.
The shop was cozy and so pretty. Sadly, it didn’t have anywhere to sit inside. But there was a coffee shop and a restaurant right next to it, so you can easily get a book there and enjoy the Roman weather while enjoying a nice drink.
Open Door Bookshop
Open Door Bookshop is located in Via della Lungaretta. It doesn’t look like much on the outside, but the inside is amazing.
The walls of the bookshop are filled with books. There are bookshelves from floor to ceiling overflowing with all kinds of books. Some books don’t even fit on the bookshelves anymore and they’re placed in piles on the floor.
The bookshop is the image of coziness and comfort when it comes to hole-in-the-wall bookshops. The place was quiet and there were just a couple of other people inside while I visited.
It can feel a bit crowded, because of the number of books there are. There’s very little space to move around, but that just adds to its charm. The books are mostly in Italian, and most of them are used books, but it does have a small area with English books.
Almost Corner Bookshop
Almost Corner Bookshop is located in Via del Moro, a short walk away from Open Door Bookshop.
The bookshop is small but very charming. This one had only books in English, with a few in Italian. It had a great selection of novels and nonfiction books, so you can find books of all genres.
The guy working at the bookshop when I visited was super nice. He recommended some books and was interested to know about my trip to Italy.
The neighborhood is nice. There are many restaurants close to the bookshop, so you can enjoy Italian cuisine while reading a new book!
LaFeltrinelli
LaFeltrinelli is different from all the other bookstores I visited in Rome. First of all, it isn’t a small independent bookshop. This one, in fact, was HUGE!
And I’m talking two-level bookstore with a stock of all types of books. It felt like a sort of Italian Barnes&Noble because it not only sold books, it also had stationary, music, DVDs, and its own café.
They had a whole section of English books with a wide variety of titles. Plus, this isn’t the only store. In fact, there are different locations for LaFeltrinelli in Rome, so you’ll find one no matter where you are.
Rome was such a magical place and I loved visiting bookshops. They showcased such a unique view of Italian culture. There were so many other bookshops I wish I could share with you. If you ever find yourself in Rome, you’ll easily find a bookshop to visit.
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Also, don’t forget to read my other blog posts!
- #LiteraryQuestionsTag: Answering Bookish Questions
- London: A City of Beautiful Bookshops
- A Guide to Beautiful Bookstores in Rome
- Paris in 3 Bookstores
- Moving To Kindle for the First Time!
- 4 Tips That Will Help You Find More Time to Read
Naya is Reading 
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