This morning, I’m sweating in Florence, Italy. It’s supposed to hit 105 degrees, without the humidity added in. It’s hard to be too miserable as long as there is plenty of shade and water. This year while I’ve taught study abroad in Florence, I’ve been popping in and out of a lot of fun bookstores. I don’t think I’d realized last time just how many bookstores there are. While I haven’t captured photos of even half of them, I thought I’d share a few with you. The lovely aspect is that each has an English language section. There’s even one bookstore (the Paperback Exchange near the Duomo) that is entirely English. Perfect for the ex-pat or tourist!
The bookstore (Le Feltrinelli) above is off the Piazza della Repubblica. It is also next to our favorite shop to buy all things Italian coffee (the Bialetti store). There is something about the cartoon trademark that makes me smile almost as much as the espresso cups that read coffee makes me smile. This is a large bookstore (three floors) with everything from stamps to use on your books, to air-conditioning with a welcoming coffee bar (and the prices are very reasonable) to books on books on books. Did I mention there are three floors? (There’s a smaller version of this bookstore that I walk by multiple times a day between the Pittie Palace and Ponte Vechio. What can I say? Teaching here is no hardship for an avid reader and author!)
Eric and I had coffee and a croissant or small sandwich at this delightful find, La Cite –Liberiacafe on Borgo San Frediano. It is on the other side of the Arno close to where I teach. We stumbled on it yesterday, and I could not get over all the fun details. There are books, architectural delights, and my caffe latte was delish. It was a great combination. And with two lofts, there was plenty of seating inside and out. Without the seating charge that many places automatically add to your tab, I may have found a favorite place to hang out and read if I get to teach in Florence again.
This shop, Todo Modo, is back across the Arno and also has a cafe mixed in with a delightful bookstore that winds back and back until you go up a few steps to a charming children’s section. This shop is primarily Italian books, with a very small section of English, but it has some great books about Florence as well as some fun finds for the tourist.
To celebrate another couple weeks in Florence, I’m giving away a copy of Shadowed by Grace, my novel set in Tuscany during WWII with the Monuments Men. You can enter using the from below.
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I have been enjoying your posts from Florence. I was there a couple of years ago but it was at the tail end of a nearly two week trek through a few countries so I was super tired and didn’t get to fully appreciate it while there. Would love to go back one day! Your pictures have been wonderful to see!
Joy, it would be overwhelming to get here at the end of an adventure. Florence has so much…but lots of tourists!
Sounds so wonderful to visit. I will live vicariously through you. Blessings
I would love to travel to Israel.
Lucy, I’m glad you enjoy these posts. I love sharing these opportunities. And I’m with you — I’d love to travel to Israel someday.
I would love to go to Israel -hopefully on a tour with a good Bible teacher.
I think that would really open up the Bible in a fresh way. Some day!
What a wonderful trip! It’s ALMOST like being there! Without the sweat and heat. Enjoy!
AND I’d love to visit Florence! Or Scotland or Ireland or Norway…the list is pretty long!
If I could travel anywhere outside the USA, I would travel to Ireland. Of course, Italy would be a fun place to visit. As long as wherever I go has bookstores, I will be content! 🙂
I’ve been to Pisa, Rome/Vatican City, and Venice as part of a cruise. Italy is a wonderful country to visit.
I know what you mean about visiting a popular tourist destination–feels like it’s more tourists than locals! The city of Venice plans to enact controls of how many tourists can visit in a day.
I would love to travel to Israel
I’d return to Israel!
If i could travel anywhere..i would love to visit Italy, and i would want to see the colosseum:)
If i could go to Europe I would like to visit Florence, Italy. My husband visited there when he was going to school in Geneva and throroughly enjoyed it.
Betty Neels Holland
I’ve always wanted to go to Machu Picchu in Peru.
I would love to visit Brazil with my mom to see where she grew up as a missionary kid. And, my family is planning to visit the UK…to see our family “roots”, castles, beauty, etc.
Sounds like a wonderful trip.
I visited Florence two years ago with my mom and found it beautiful. Unfortunately I never saw any of those bookstores that you mentioned. I guess I’ll have to visit there again someday! 😉
I love your post about your trip! I love to travel there someday!I really hope to visit many areas maybe someday. I love to see Paris or Germany and see all the historical sites I read so much about. Thanks for your wonderful post and pictures!