EsquiLibri

An open-air bookstore under the porticoes of Piazza Vittorio

EsquiLibri is the monthly market dedicated to second-hand, bargain, rare, and antiquarian books that brings the porticoes of Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II—the largest square in Rome, located in the heart of the Esquilino district—to life. The event takes place every third Sunday of the month, from morning until sunset, and has already won over a loyal audience of bibliophiles, collectors, students, and curious passersby who come to browse the stalls in search of the perfect find.

The initiative was launched in the autumn of 2024 by the Pagine Romane Association, which brings together second-hand and antiquarian booksellers in the capital, in collaboration with the Esquilino Vivo committee and Piazza Vittorio aps, with the patronage of the Municipality of Rome and the support of Municipio Roma I Centro. The underlying idea is simple and very practical: to restore a daily cultural function to the square, bringing books back to the streets and giving new life to volumes that would otherwise end up in the pulp mill.

What you can find at the stalls

The stalls are arranged on both sides of the square starting from Via dello Statuto and offer a deliberately diverse catalog, which changes from month to month depending on the exhibitors present:

• Second-hand and bargain books of all genres: fiction, non-fiction, art, history, philosophy, travel;
• Antiquarian and rare volumes, first editions, out-of-print books, and bibliographic curiosities;
• 20th-century magazines, newspapers, and comics, often in complete series;
• Vintage posters, playbills, postcards, and photographs;
• Graphics, prints, and illustrations, including loose plates and portfolios;
• Vinyl records and small paper antiques.

Prices cover a very wide range: from a volume costing just a few euros, fished out of the bargain bins, to collector's items handled by specialized booksellers. It is precisely this coexistence of popular stalls and antiquarian bookstores that gives EsquiLibri its unique character.

A market with an ecological vocation

EsquiLibri explicitly presents itself as an ecological market: putting already printed books back into circulation is a concrete form of reuse that extends the life of objects and reduces waste. The environmental dimension is intertwined with the social one, as the event is also designed as a community hub in one of the city's most densely populated and multicultural neighborhoods.

More than just stalls: meetings and presentations

Alongside the buying and selling, the days regularly host book presentations, meetings with authors, and conversations on topics closely related to the district and the city: urban history, the anthropology of the Esquilino, 20th-century memory, and minority literatures. The schedule of meetings is announced from time to time on the event's social media channels, usually in the days immediately preceding the appointment.

The Esquilino, a district to explore on foot

Piazza Vittorio is the geographical and symbolic center of the Esquilino, a 19th-century district built after the Unification of Italy and now a crossroads for communities from all over the world. In the central garden of the square, you can find the remains of the so-called Trophies of Marius and the mysterious Magic Gate, while just a few steps away are the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, the covered market of Via Principe Amedeo, and the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme. A visit to EsquiLibri naturally combines with a walk through one of the liveliest neighborhoods in Rome and the Lazio Region.

Quick practical information

Admission to the market is free and no reservation is required. The usual hours are from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and the event takes place under the porticoes even in the event of light rain. For information on exhibitors and dates, you can contact the organizers at [email protected] or by calling +39 388 3927901.