Feltrinelli opens in Montevideo, first time in South America

Open at first Feltrinelli bookshop of the Sud Americain an elegant 1920s building in the heart of Montevideoin Uruguaycon 60,000 titles arranged on two floors, one cafeteria open all day, space for events, meetings, presentationsfor a new place of cultural production in a city so friendly to Italian culture.

In the 60s Feltrinelli inaugurated an uninterrupted bond with the voices and authors ofAmerica Latinahelping to make them known and appreciated by the European public: Juan Carlos Onetti, Mario Benedetti, Juan Rulfo, Mario Vargas Llosa, Augusto Roa Bastos, Jorge Luis Borges, Miguel A. Asturias, Manuel Scorza, João Guimaraes Rosa and many others. In many cases they were the first translations in the worldas for One hundred years of solitude Of Gabriel Garcia Marquez e Che’s diary in Bolivia Of Ernesto Che Guevara.

Today, seventy years later, Feltrinelli choose againAmerica Latina to give life to a new phase of its history, a journey in reverse compared to that of the 60s which brought the book experience of the first chain of Italian bookstores to build a ambitious project born from the collaboration with three local partners already active among Uruguay e Argentina: Alejandro Lagazeta, Juan Castillo Marianovich e Paolo Brown.

The meaning of Latin America for Feltrinelli

“Latin America has historically meant for Feltrinelli many things,” he explains Carlo FeltrinelliPresident of Feltrinelli Group. “A literary source and ideas to look to – he adds – a continent that has given us profound insights friendships and deep personal and intellectual connectionsand today it acquires an additional meaning, that of discoverybecause opening this bookshop is like showing up at a friends’ house to share a piece of life together, ready to let things happen, that meetings have the right moment and there can be good time to spend together. This is the spirit and emotion with which we open our premiere bookstore in Uruguay: and friendship bridgethe taste for discovery, the passion for books.”

The common vision with local partners

Alessandra CarraCEO of Feltrinelli Groupemphasizes how: “With our three local partners, Alejandro Lagazeta, Juan Castillo Marianovich e Paolo Brownin a certain sense we chose each other: we discovered that we speak the same language, that we believe in the same values ​​and have a common vision. From this understanding we started to design one new space for readersbut perfectly integrated with thelocal experiencewelcoming and familiar. And then naturally it also contained a part of the offering which represents our daily bread, i books in Italian which, selected by Feltrinelli booksellersrepresent one of the richest sections of the library”.

The Pablo Ferrando palace and its restoration

Among the streets of the center of Montevideothe sign Feltrinelli is ready to welcome readers and readers inside the Pablo Ferrando palacesymbol ofArt Nouveau in the city, which has been the protagonist of an important event in recent months restoration intervention aimed at preserving its own architectural peculiaritiesfrom the curves to the windows, to the upper skylight, to the natural motifs.

The offer of the Feltrinelli bookshop in Montevideo

With a proposal of more 60,000 titlesthe Feltrinelli bookshop in Montevideo develops on two floors for a total of 650 square meters. The entrance floor hosts the different literary genresfrom the narrative at the non-fictionat the poetry at the illustrated criticismuntil children’s literature with an unpublished section dedicated to children’s titles which deal with issues related toenvironmenteveryone gender issues and to diversity. The upper floor focuses on international literature with a large section dedicated to books in Italian bringing an imprint of the to Montevideo culture that the catalog of Feltrinelli helped forge and a selection of essential reading for those who wish to approach Italian literature.

Thematic tables and vision of the world

It is a journey that passes through the bookshop, they are located along the entire route thematic tablesmade by booksellers with a biweekly rotationto provide the readers a plurality of voices and perspectives useful for further investigation themes and issues related to current affairs and contemporaneity: an opportunity to build your own vision of the worldstarting from books.

Café and cultural activities

To enrich the proposal, one cafeteria that it will offer breakfasts, simple lunches and, starting at 7pm, a selection of drinks and gastronomy to accompany the beginning of cultural activities which will take place in this space: book presentations, reading groups, show case musicali.