Rome’s Anglo American Bookshop, a cherished institution for the English-speaking community in the capital for over 70 years, has closed its doors permanently this week.
Rome’s Anglo American Bookshop, a beloved spot for the English-speaking community, has closed its doors after 70 years.
Owner Cristina Donati, whose family ran the bookstore on Via della Vite since 1953, blamed “unsustainable” rent and customs duties.
The closure follows the death of the shop’s founder, Dino Donati, and a move to a smaller location two years ago.
The relocation, due to higher rent demands, reduced the inventory to 6,000 books from the original store’s much larger stock. The new premises, located on the first floor without a street-level window, attracted fewer customers as a result.
Over the years, many notable figures visited the shop, including Giorgio Napolitano, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cher, and famous authors. Cristina Donati recalled a visit from an “American tycoon” who spent hours browsing and left with a €4,000 bill.
“My dad worked until his last day. I am now retired after 42 years,” Donati told ANSA.
“The cost of imported books is high, and even here, the rent is too expensive,” she added.
Several English-language bookstores in Rome have closed, including the Lion Bookshop, Economy Book Center, and the English Bookstore.
Some English bookshops have survived, like Almost Corner, Open Door, both in Trastevere, Otherwise near Piazza Navona, and The Little Reader in Esquilino.
