Are you a book worm about to plan a holiday in Florence? Well, we’re sure you’ll pack some great books to bring with you – there’ll probably be room for little else in your suitcase! – but there is nothing quite like the thrill of browsing new bookshops in a new place.
As the birthplace of the Renaissance and a great city of culture that has attracted some of the world’s leading artists of all art forms throughout the centuries, Florence is just the kind of dreamy location in which you might find your new favourite book and a magical bookshop where you can get lost for hours…
So, we have decided to put together a little guide to some of the city’s best and most beloved bookshops to help you get started on your literary adventure once you have booked your vacation rental in Florence and are on your way…
1. Todo Modo
Via dei Fossi 15
This international book store is exactly the kind of place where you could land and not leave again for quite some time. In addition to selling books, it is also a bistro and wine bar, which really is a dream combo. The ultimate spot for cool kids, they also have their own small publishing house, producing beautiful books with gorgeous illustrations. Furthermore, this is a lively place where writers and readers regularly come together for all sorts of events – readings, performances, meetings, lectures, screenings, and more – and the owners contribute to a column on books in the Florentine branch of the La Repubblica newspaper as well as hosting a radio show for the Testo Firenze literary festival. Head to their other location at Manifattura Tabacchi, an old tabacco factory, and you’ll find them at Libri e-lettrici, repairing vintage books and serving up Japanese gastropub offerings at Bentō Bar… Why would you ever want to leave?
Via dell'Oche, 4-red
If you’re not as interested in bells and whistles but are looking for a venue selling primarily English-language books, then Paperback Exchange is a good shout. Not far from the Duomo, you can actually exchange your old books for another used book, which is good for your baggage limit, your pocket, and the environment – that’s a win-win-win!
3. Brac
Via dei Vagellai 18r
Located close to the museums and art institutions that can be found in and around Piazza Santa Croce and Piazza della Signoria is Brac, a bookshop dedicated to art books. Brac is also a vegetarian restaurant with some great vegan offerings as well, making it an ideal place to enjoy some delicious food and get some stunning art books all at once in the beautiful bright interiors of this lovely space.
Viale Lavagnini 72
Considered the leading LGBTQIA+ and feminist bookstore in the city, Libreria Alice is a lively and bustling space where events are regularly hosted including talks, readings, signings, and more. For great books and an open, safe place of inclusivity, it’s unparalleled in the city.
5. Libreria Antiquaria Gozzini
Borgo San Frediano 20/r
This bookshop, meanwhile, is one of the oldest and most enduring in the city with over two centuries of history. Run by the fifth and sixth generation of the family, this antiquarian bookstore hosts an outstanding selection of rare books in refined surroundings that are bound to make book-lovers swoon – spread across three floors and 23 rooms arranged around a private garden in the eighteenth-century Palazzo Alfani. With 2km of shelves and over 150,000 volumes on display, it is a place to get truly lost in books.
So, if you’re a book-lover, be sure to book a holiday rental in Florence and come discover all that this literary city has to offer…
