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Any place to buy books in English in Florence?

Is there a place to exchange or buy books in English in Florence? Thanks!

Posted by
2504 posts

Searching online for 'English book store in Florence Italy' gets two results: the Paperback Exchange, a block south of the Duomo, and the BM Bookshop, close to the Piazza Carlo Goldoni.

Posted by
1773 posts

The BM bookshop is closed now. At present, the largest selection is at Paperback Exchange, via delle Oche. IBS/Seeber at Via de' Cerretani has a few shelves on the ground floor by the rightmost entrance, and a shelf is on the first floor of Feltrinelli at Piazza della Repubblica.

Posted by
8702 posts

English language books are just so expensive in Europe. What I do and you might consider it, is use my Nook to download books for free from the library in my hometown in the US. You can also do this with the Kindle now although years ago when I started doing this only Nook supported this. I load the reader up with library books of various sorts to have things to read on the plane and then during the trip can download more books as I finish those or they expire. You can also buy books on line much more cheaply for your reader than you can buy paperbacks on the road.

We spent a couple of months in Florence nearly 15 years ago and at that time the paperback exchange was a great source of reading material and they also gave you credit for books you brought in. I thought this store had closed a number of years ago; perhaps there is a new one.

Posted by
1773 posts

The Paperback Exchange in Florence is always the same, it has just changed place and now is very near the Cathedral.

Posted by
127 posts

Unless you are prepared to take out a loan, don't buy books in Europe. I have a Kindle that I carry, usually with books already on it. This way, you can get the books you want, rather than what might be available in a book store. Much lighter to carry also.

Posted by
1 posts

This is a bit off-thread, but in response to all the recommendations to refrain from buying books in Europe, I would offer Bookshop Bivar in Lisbon. They have a great selection of mostly second-hand paperbacks at reasonable prices -- a great place to pick up some beach reading or to stock up for that long flight home.
We will be in Florence in November, so we can do some price comparisons at Paperback Exchange.