Bookshops in Bergamo: where to buy and read books in Upper Town, Lower Town and beyond

The bookshops in Bergamo reflect different aspects of the city, from the historic bookstore overlooking the Sentierone to independent bookshops tucked away in Upper and Lower Bergamo, as well as welcoming spaces where you can browse a book over a coffee.

For visitors, stepping into a bookshop can also be a way to discover local culture, find books about the surrounding area or come across an unexpected title.

And between a stroll and a visit to the city’s best-known landmarks, there are plenty of opportunities to take a break among the shelves.

What bookshops are there in Bergamo?

Bergamo has two distinct sides when it comes to books, too. In Città Alta (Upper Town), the medieval quarter enclosed by the Venetian Walls, bookshops are few and far between. In Città Bassa (Lower Town), they are concentrated around the Sentierone, the pedestrianised Via XX Settembre and the historic neighbourhood streets.

If you want to include a bookshop in your itinerary, it makes sense to explore one area at a time, depending on which part of the city you plan to visit that day.

Bookshops in Upper Bergamo: Punto a Capo Libri on the Corsarola

The main bookshop in the upper part of the city is Punto a Capo Libri, at Via Bartolomeo Colleoni 17/b, on the Corsarola, the main street that runs from the funicular station through Piazza Vecchia.

It is a small independent bookshop run by two booksellers who personally select the titles displayed in the window and on the shelves. Regular customers have even learnt to recognise which bookseller recommended each book. Outside, visitors stroll along the cobbled Corsarola; inside, the pace slows down as you browse carefully selected books.

For visitors, the bookshop has several distinctive features that make it worth a stop, even during a day spent exploring the city’s landmarks:

• Fiction, including books in their original language, useful for international visitors
• Non-fiction, photography books, and titles on gardening and arts and crafts
• A well-stocked children’s and young adult section
• A selection of quality stationery, ideal for a small gift

Our research did not identify any other general-interest bookshops in Upper Bergamo that could be confirmed through official sources. If you are looking for a wider selection or a specific title, it is easier to take the funicular down to Lower Bergamo.

Bookshops in Lower Bergamo: the area between the Sentierone and Via XX Settembre

Most bookshops in Bergamo are located in Lower Bergamo, often just a few minutes’ walk from one another. A natural starting point is the Sentierone, the arcaded boulevard in the Piacentini centre, which leads into the pedestrianised section of Via XX Settembre.

Libreria Arnoldi (Piazza Matteotti 22, on the Sentierone) is the historic bookshop in the city centre. Founded in 1913 and still run by the Arnoldi family, it combines fiction and non-fiction with expertise in schoolbooks and a particular focus on guidebooks and books about Bergamo and its local heritage. It is an excellent place to find a book about the city to take home. In 1959, it was one of the founding bookshops of the first Fiera dei Librai, Bergamo’s book fair, and in 2022 it received the official “Quality Bookshop” recognition.

Libraccio Bergamo Centro (Via XX Settembre 93) is right in the pedestrian area and offers around 25,000 titles, including a section of second-hand and out-of-print books sold at half price. The shop also stocks books in other languages, DVDs, CDs and vinyl records, and buys used items. It is open on Sundays, with reduced hours, which is useful if you are visiting at the weekend. A second Libraccio branch is located at Via San Bernardino 34/c.

Also on Via XX Settembre is Feltrinelli, a large chain bookshop with a general-interest selection. Libreria San Paolo (Via Giovanni Paglia 2/H) has a different history: it has been in Bergamo since 1951 and at its current address since 1996. Although it covers a range of subjects, its strongest selection is in spirituality and religious studies.

Outside the historic centre, in the new ChorusLife district, the Mondadori Bookstore at Via Carlo Serassi 26 opened on 5 August 2026. Its 210 square metres of retail space house more than 11,000 titles, with dedicated sections for children, comics and manga, and romance. The store also offers the Zeercle service, which allows customers to sell used books in exchange for a gift card. Lower Bergamo is also home to the independent bookshops Palomar and Incrocio Quarenghi, described below.

Bookshops in the surrounding area: shopping centres and nearby towns

Some bookshops commonly searched for as being in Bergamo are actually located in neighbouring towns, usually inside shopping centres. They are not within walking distance of the city centre, but they may be useful if you are travelling by car or catching a flight:

• Oriocenter, Orio al Serio (Via Portico 71): home to Feltrinelli and Giunti al Punto, next to the airport
• Le Vele, Curno (Via Europa 9): a Libraccio branch selling new and second-hand books

Independent bookshops in Bergamo

One of the most distinctive features of Bergamo’s book scene is its network of independent bookshops. Since 2005, many booksellers have worked together through Li.Ber, the Bergamo Booksellers Association, which was established to organise the Fiera dei Librai. They also share the LiberCard, a loyalty card offering discounts at participating bookshops and during the book fair. Five bookshops in the municipality of Bergamo take part in the scheme:

• Libreria Arnoldi, on the Sentierone,
• Libreria Palomar, at Via Angelo Mai 10/i,
• Punto a Capo Libri, in Upper Bergamo,
• Incrocio Quarenghi, at Via Quarenghi 32/B,
• Libreria San Paolo, at Via Paglia 2/H.

In the surrounding province, the network also includes Cartolibreria Nani in Alzano Lombardo, which has been operating since 1890 and is listed among Lombardy’s historic shops, and Il Parnaso Libri & Natura in Ponteranica.

Libreria Palomar is located on Via Angelo Mai in Lower Bergamo. It should not be confused with the similarly named public library in Piazza Vecchia. The bookshop brings together booksellers from different generations, with interests ranging from fiction and art to classics and popular science. One of its distinguishing features is its popular book clubs, as well as collaborations with local organisations for talks and book launches.

Incrocio Quarenghi opened in 2014 and takes its name from the crossroads halfway along Via Quarenghi. On one side are the shopfronts of the city centre; on the other, the street’s multicultural businesses.

Alongside thousands of fiction and non-fiction titles and a wide selection for children and young adults, the bookshop organises book launches, exhibitions, book clubs, courses and workshops. It is also one of the few places in the city where you can buy a book and start reading it straight away, seated at a table.

The Fiera dei Librai book fair

The Fiera dei Librai is when Bergamo’s independent bookshops take to the streets. Established in 1959, it is considered Italy’s oldest booksellers’ fair and traditionally takes place in spring along the Sentierone. For two weeks, the boulevard becomes a large open-air bookshop, with author talks and book presentations also taking place in other cultural venues around the city. In 2016, the event received a medal from the President of the Italian Republic as a mark of recognition.

The 67th edition, held in 2026 under the title “Volti a leggere” (“Faces of Reading”), ran from 18 April to 3 May. At the time of writing, the dates for 2027 have not yet been announced. If you are planning a spring visit, check the official website at fieradeilibrai.it.

Throughout the rest of the year, the connection between booksellers and readers continues with the “Librai per un anno” (“Booksellers All Year Round”) programme, whose third edition features author events from October 2026 to January 2027.

Alternative bookshops: esoteric bookshops in Bergamo

If you are looking for an esoteric bookshop in Bergamo, our research did not identify any specialist shops in the municipality dedicated to esotericism, astrology or spiritual traditions that could be confirmed through an official website or up-to-date sources. Some names appear in general online directories, but there was not enough evidence to confirm that they are still operating, so they are not listed as reliable addresses.

There are still a few options. General-interest bookshops in the city centre may be able to order specific titles, while second-hand and out-of-print sections, such as the one at Libraccio, sometimes stock books on these subjects. In the province, Il Parnaso in Ponteranica combines books with natural remedies, Bach flower remedies and meditation. It is not an esoteric bookshop, but it covers related interests.

Discover the city, from historic lanes to bookshops

The difference in elevation between Lower and Upper Bergamo is noticeable: walks through the city centre involve uphill stretches, stairways and sloping streets. If you would like to explore the city without covering the entire route on foot, a Tuk Tuk tour can be a pleasant way to take in the views and get your bearings in the different neighbourhoods.

With Bergamo By Tuk Tuk, you can discover different corners of the city and pass by landmarks such as the Venetian Walls, the historic centre and the Sentierone, depending on the itinerary you choose. The tour can be a way to get to know the city before continuing independently to its bookshops, from Libreria Arnoldi on the Sentierone to Punto a Capo Libri along the Corsarola in Upper Bergamo.

Bookshops are not scheduled stops on the tours, but they can make a lovely addition to your visit, reached on foot depending on where you are.

Where to read in Bergamo: libraries, reading rooms and bookshops with tables

Beyond buying books, Bergamo has places where you can sit down and read. The options vary: libraries offer reading and borrowing services, bookshops sell books, and only some venues provide space to stay for a while.

Biblioteca dei Comuni in Borgo Santa Caterina

At Via Borgo Santa Caterina 19, you will find the Biblioteca dei Comuni, the Province of Bergamo’s cultural heritage documentation centre. Its collection includes around 9,000 books on local history, art, literature, geography and traditions, including publications about the municipalities of the Bergamo area. It is a useful resource for anyone wishing to learn more about the local region.

Books can be consulted on site or borrowed, including through the Rete Bibliotecaria Bergamasca, the Bergamo Library Network. The library is open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 am to 12:30 pm and on Thursdays from 10 am to 5 pm. Visits at other times can be arranged by email.

Biblioteca Civica Angelo Mai, in Piazza Vecchia

The city’s historic library occupies Palazzo Nuovo, opposite the Palazzo della Ragione. Its origins lie in the bequest of Cardinal Giuseppe Alessandro Furietti. This is not a bookshop: books are not sold here, but can be consulted or borrowed according to the library’s rules. It is open from 9 am to 5:30 pm on weekdays and from 9 am to 1 pm on Saturdays.

On Sundays, from 10 am to 1 pm, the “Domenica ore 10!” initiative opens the Scamozzian Atrium and the new publications room to the public. Visitors can read newspapers and magazines, sit down and request books on loan, while the first floor, including the Salone Furietti, is accessible only during scheduled events. Reading a newspaper in the atrium, with the Contarini Fountain just outside, is one of the quieter ways to experience Piazza Vecchia.

Biblioteca Tiraboschi in Lower Bergamo

The central library of the city’s library network is located at Via San Bernardino 74. Admission is free, while study spaces must be booked online through the library’s reservation service. Registration is required to borrow books. The Sala Mimmo Boninelli regularly hosts book presentations and public events.

Incrocio Quarenghi: a bookshop where you can stay and read

Among Bergamo’s bookshops, Incrocio Quarenghi comes closest to being a reading space. It has tables where you can read, study or work, Wi-Fi and a coffee machine, and also welcomes bicycles and pets. You can buy a book and settle in to read. The shop is open on Monday afternoons and from Tuesday to Saturday with a split-day schedule; it is closed on Sundays.

Between a ride on the funicular and a break beneath the arcades, Bergamo’s bookshops offer a tangible way to take a piece of the city home with you. It might be a book about local heritage bought on the Sentierone and opened for the first time while sitting on the Venetian Walls, with the plain stretching out below.

Municipal Library of Torre Boldone

A few kilometres from Bergamo, the Municipal Library of Torre Boldone is located at Via G. Reich 2. It is another option for visitors staying in or travelling through the area who are looking for a place dedicated to books and reading.

Ferdinando Caglioni Municipal Library in Gorle

Gorle is also home to the Ferdinando Caglioni Municipal Library, at Via Guglielmo Marconi 5. Located on the outskirts of Bergamo, it may be of interest to anyone wishing to explore the surrounding area and discover the cultural services offered by nearby towns.

FAQ

Where can I find Feltrinelli bookshops in Bergamo?

In Bergamo itself, Feltrinelli is located on Via XX Settembre, in the pedestrian area of Lower Bergamo. A second branch is inside Oriocenter in Orio al Serio (Via Portico 71), next to the airport.

Where can I find university bookshops in Bergamo?

We could not confirm the existence of a dedicated university bookshop through official sources. The University of Bergamo does, however, have its own libraries: Economics and Law at Via dei Caniana 2, Humanities at Piazzale Sant’Agostino 2 in Upper Bergamo, and Engineering in Dalmine. These libraries are not retail outlets, so visitors from outside the university should check the access and consultation rules for each location. Libraccio may be useful if you are looking for second-hand textbooks.

Where can I find Mondadori bookshops in Bergamo?

The Mondadori Bookstore is located at Via Carlo Serassi 26, in the ChorusLife district, and opened in August 2026. It is outside the historic centre, so it is best planned as a separate stop.

Where can I find Libraccio bookshops in Bergamo?

There are two branches in the municipality of Bergamo: Via XX Settembre 93, in the pedestrian area, and Via San Bernardino 34/c. In the province, there is also a branch in Curno, inside the Le Vele shopping centre at Via Europa 9.

Where can I find Giunti bookshops in Bergamo?

We could not confirm a Giunti shop within the municipality of Bergamo through official sources. The nearest confirmed branch is Giunti al Punto inside Oriocenter in Orio al Serio, convenient if you are travelling to or from the airport.

Museums, churches, historic residences and culture in Bergamo

• Historic Residences in Bergamo and the Surrounding Area
• The Colleoni Chapel in Bergamo
• Accademia Carrara in Bergamo: Over 200 Years of Art and Culture
• Gombito Tower: Tracing Medieval Bergamo
• Exploring the Underground Wonders of Bergamo
• Bergamo’s Lazaretto: 600 Years of Life Beyond Life