In 1866, the Marsigli e Rocchi bookshop under the Pavaglione portico was acquired by Nicola Zanichelli, who had owned a small bookshop in Modena since 1843. Zanichelli founded the publishing house bearing his name in 1859, which in 1864 published the first Italian translation of On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin. Starting from 1875, Zanichelli published the works of Giosuè Carducci, who became a regular visitor of the bookshop. He was often found there in the late afternoon bent over an open book or entirely engrossed in conversation with one acquaintance or another. A small study was created in the back of the shop, where Carducci read, studied and received colleagues and friends. The publishing company specialised in scientific texts, as well as literary and history texts and those on Bologna’s culture. In 1989, although still owned by Zanichelli, management of the bookshop was given to Feltrinelli. In 2012, it was acquired by Librerie Coop. It is still possible to see Carducci’s study inside.

Web sources:

https://www.storiaememoriadibologna.it/zanichelli-casa-editrice-493-organizzazione

Photo: Anonimo/Cineteca di Bologna