• Small and impactful: how La Città dei Lettori proves that when it comes to cultural value, size doesn’t matter.
• Creative regeneration: The Square as a case study in how former industrial sites can become vibrant cultural hubs.
• Adaptive reuse: the Goldoni → FitActive transition as a reflection of changing urban uses from cinema/theater to fitness and community well‑being.
• Florence today: a city balancing heritage and new expressions of social space.
La Città dei Lettori – Tiny Bookstore in the Oltrarno
In November 2025, the literary collective La Città dei Lettori inaugurated a charming new bookstore on Via dei Serragli in the Oltrarno. Billed as “the second smallest bookstore in Florence”, the space is a refuge designed for book lovers. Its tiny footprint, just enough for a curated selection of titles and a single armchair made of recycled paper, celebrates slow reading and community over commercialism.
A particularly loveable feature is their “buchetta del libro” (book window), a whimsical response to Florence’s many wine windows (buchette del vino), where readers can receive books instead of wine. This concept evokes both Florentine tradition and a love for literature in a uniquely local expression. It’s an intimate, cozy space that invites you to walk in and browse. You know what I think is the best thing about it? In a world that currently favors commerce over culture, it’s a beautifully radical choice to embrace the city’s important literary past and present while bringing community together. As far as I’m concerned, that’s something to celebrate and a place to frequent, my friends. They might be small, but their presence is mighty.
The Square – Cultural Hub in Le Cure
In the Cure neighborhood, a former industrial building has been reimagined as The Square, a dynamic cultural space for theatre, music, dance, workshops, and community events. Since its opening in autumn 2024, The Square has gained momentum as a creative hub with ongoing programming from improv theatre and live music to film screenings, podcasts, courses, and collective artistic projects.
The venue is conceived as a cultural piazza in the heart of Florence’s Quartiere 2, bringing together studios, coworking, a performance stage, and artistic encounters outside the historic center’s core. It’s become a living stage for locals and visitors alike, a place where creativity meets community.
I love what they’re doing so much that I wish every neighborhood had something like this. I’m also delighted to share that I’ll be teaching a course on podcasting there this spring and am thrilled to be a part of this dynamic community space that’s supporting emerging artists, offering free or affordable events, and creating vibrant cultural programming outside Florence’s central tourist core.
FitActive Gym – New Fitness Destination on Via dei Serragli
Florence’s Oltrarno continues to evolve with the upcoming opening of a new FitActive gym on Via dei Serragli, taking over the historic space of the former Goldoni cinema (where many moons ago I used to go and watch movies in English. The last film I saw there was Pulp Fiction!).
The gym, part of a popular nationwide Italian fitness chain, promises 24/7 access, a broad range of cardio and strength equipment, group classes, wellness services, and community‑driven fitness culture at very budget-friendly prices.
While some local commentary lamented the cultural loss of the old cinema and theatre space, the arrival of FitActive also signals a new chapter in the Oltrarno’s urban landscape, blending health, activity, and everyday life in a historic setting. The gym is expected to open to the public between February and March 2026, with early promotional memberships already circulating. Every time I pass by there a people signing up, a clear sign that it’s a very welcome and necessary addition to the area.
My daughter and I have already joined, and I’ve been talking it up to everyone who’ll listen. Wellness is culture too, and, honestly, this is a tremendous benefit for residents and a huge asset for our neighborhood and community.