Once the beating heart of Italian streets, edicole, or newsstands, have long teetered on the verge of extinction—relics of a bygone era when gossip, information, and interaction were consumed on the streets. Now, against all odds, some are reawakening, returning in different, cooler guises, reinventing themselves as cultural lifelines and taste-defining cornerstones of the digital age—a fusion of foresight, design-savviness, and a nostalgic longing for things on paper.

Back in the day, edicole acted as portals to a world of diversified knowledge that embraced the high and lowbrow—from comics to world politics, from puzzles to collectible booklets on art history. Having grown up in the ‘90s, I experienced a familiar thrill anytime I’d find myself in the presence of one of the kiosks, mesmerized by all the words on paper they contained. I could spend hours there, browsing, longing, and carefully considering how I could invest my pocket money—whether on Topolino or a glossy magazine, hungry for all sorts of stories.

Sadly, “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” Bob Dylan once sang—or rather, they have been changing for some time, at least two decades. The fate of these community hallmarks has overwhelmingly trended toward rapid decline, reflecting broader shifts in the editorial sector, media consumption, and urban dynamics. These days, edicole are either destined to become relics of another era—like telephone booths and internet cafés—or they are dismantled or repurposed. According to the National Independent Newsagents’ Union (Snag), there were around 40,000 newsstands nationwide in the early 2000s. As of 2024, fewer than 12,000 remain, and nearly half of these no longer primarily sell newspapers and magazines. To adapt to shifting consumer habits, many have taken advantage of new regulations allowing them to diversify their offerings. Beyond print media, they now sell postcards, souvenirs, and even provide services like ATM access. Since 2021, governments have also attempted to support newsstands through financial aid in the form of tax credits.

This decline is largely attributed to plummeting print media sales, which have dropped by over 5 million copies per day in the past 25 years. As a result, 25% of Italian towns are now entirely without newsstands. The pandemic only accelerated this trend; lockdowns reinforced the habit of consuming news online—an irreversible shift that goes hand in hand with the growing isolation in which we seem to swim. 

That said, not all edicole are relics of the past. Across Italy, a new wave of revitalized kiosks is not only surviving—but thriving. Reimagined with refined aesthetics and cultural intent, they’re being recast as hyper-local hubs: part newsstand, part gallery, part social space. Many have been integrated into broader urban regeneration projects, contributing to the revival of sleepy historic centers or peripheral neighborhoods. Others have undergone a complete makeover, emerging with a refreshed look reminiscent of an à-la-page bookstore or a vibey coffee shop that wouldn’t feel out of place in the trendy parts of London or Copenhagen. Uncluttered and irresistibly eye-catching, they appeal as much to the design-savvy as to the culture-hungry.

What’s more, their renewed symbolic value and visual appeal have begun to attract like-minded brands, which use them for product launches and awareness campaigns. Like Louis Vuitton, which transformed six of Venice’s iconic green-domed newsstands into branded booths selling the latest edition of their colorful Venice City Guide during the 2022 Biennale. Or Miu Miu, whose Milan “Summer Reads” newsstand in June 2024 doled out copies of Una donna by Sibilla Aleramo, Persuasion by Jane Austen, and Quaderno proibito by Alba de Céspedes. This strategy has become increasingly common at the likes of Milan Design Week and forms part of the business model for new-style newsstands such as Edicola Erno in Rome.

Here, four reimagined edicole across Italy that are keeping print alive, culture buzzing, and street corners cooler than ever. 

EDICOLA ERNO (ROME)

Curated kiosk and pop-up space

This “non-ordinary Roman newsstand” launched in March 2019 in Rome’s Prati neighborhood, at the hands of four young partners—Valentina Chiani, Andrea Mercuri, Davide Monteleone, and Alberto Valorini—who, inspired by the renowned Edicola 518 in Perugia, decided to revive a newsstand between St. Peter’s and the Vatican that had been closed for seven years. In addition to a sharp selection of independent magazines—spanning art, fashion, design, photography, architecture, and lifestyle—Edicola Erno also serves drinks and snacks to enjoy right there or in the nearby Piazza Capponi, ideal for an aperitivo with a side of great print.

But Edicola Erno has also become a low-key cultural hotspot, hosting book launches, art shows, and pop-up events; collabs with brands like Espressoh and Ciao Discoteca Italiana regularly remix the space. On any given day or night, you’ll find local brands selling jewelry or ceramics, DJs spinning vinyls, or a watercolorist painting portraits, all while rubbing shoulders with Rome’s coolest cohorts. 

Aware of going against the grain, the Edicola Erno crew is all-in on the power of print—believing deeply in thoughtful reading, deep dives, and art in every form. And the locals of the Borgo neighborhood—which, although touristed, has managed to maintain a strong sense of identity—have responded positively to this vision. The goal is for Edicola Erno to be a go-to hangout: grab a magazine, sip something good, bump into a friend, have a chat. 

AEDICOLA LAMBRATE (MILAN)

Community hub

Born from the ashes of a beloved newsstand on Via Conte Rosso, Aedicola Lambrate was brought back to life in November 2022 by a group of locals determined to reclaim the space for the city. What began as a community-led renovation is now a vibrant cultural hub—still slinging newspapers and magazines by day, but also hosting exhibitions, DJ sets, talks, and curated music selections, along with expertly crafted cocktails. Collaborations with local independent bookshops also bring book launches and themed displays to the space.

Its revival was a story of serendipity. Paolo Iabichino, a copywriter, author, and creative director, noticed a “closed down” sign on the shutters of the newsstand he had visited for years. Struck by its disappearance, he shared a post online about the vital role newsstands play in fostering critical thought. It quickly gained traction, drawing support from two Lambrate residents and journalist Michele Lupi, later joined by Casino Royale frontman and community activist Alioscia Bisceglia and his wife, Martina Pomponio.

Today, Aedicola Lambrate is a community stronghold where locals rethink the role of the newsstand and the giornalaio, the newsagent. Emphasizing the importance of print as an antidote to today’s fast, surface-level news consumption, Aedicola supports digital and print projects rooted in depth and understanding, serving not just as a defender of print culture, but as a catalyst for creative energy in a community actively resisting gentrification. At its core, the project offers tangible proof that change is possible when embraced collectively—and that print is certainly not dead; it can even thrive without relying on nostalgia.

EDICOLE RADETZKY (MILAN)

The contemporary art experiment

Edicola Radetzky might just be Milan’s teensiest art gallery. The early 20th-century, Liberty-style kiosk—defined by its iron-and-glass structure and pagoda-style roof—overlooks the Darsena on Milan’s Naviglio, its name recalling the site where General Radetzky’s decrees were once announced.

The 2x2m kiosk functioned as a newsstand until the 1960s, before falling into disuse. In 2015, as part of a broader redevelopment of the area and reopening of the canal, Progetto Città Ideale won a public tender to restore it. The group of artists and curators—led by Fiorella Fontana and Stefano Serusi and including Andrea Lacarpia, Mirko Canesi, Luigi Massari, and Patrizia Emma Scialpi—restored the space, transforming it into a space for contemporary art, its glass walls encapsulating mini exhibitions and creating a striking dialogue between art and the city.

Since its reopening, Edicola Radetzky, now under the guidance of Fiorella Fontana, has hosted over 60 exhibitions and performances featuring local and international names, from Marco Vitale to Misha Gudwin.

By evening, the kiosk becomes a kind of “lighthouse of the Darsena”—glowing like a vision above the canal; curator Andrea Lacarpia describes it as a small temple. Passersby often pause, curious about the exhibitions or eager to share memories of the neighborhood. It’s this spontaneous exchange—between art and everyday life—that gives the space its magic.

EDICOLA 518 (PERUGIA)

Self-published books & independent press

Kiosk, art bookshop, and micro-art gallery, Edicola 518 is often described as “four square meters of infinite space,” “the temple of beautiful paper,” or “a space for freedom and revolution” for all lovers of print in the historic center of Perugia, Umbria. Founded in 2016 by the artist collective behind the independent magazine Emergenze, this state-of-the-art bookshop emphasizes avant-garde and niche publications, with a range of independent magazines, artists’ books, and fanzines, as well as publications from the Emergenze Publishing label.

After launching Emergenze in 2015 to explore overlooked narratives in Perugia, the collective sought a physical space to expand their mission. An abandoned newsstand in the city center became the perfect opportunity. “Italy lacks dedicated spaces for independent publishing—not just for selling, but for promoting and spreading new projects, showcasing beautiful initiatives like the one we were creating,” they noted. “In this sense, Edicola 518 was born from a reflection that preceded the decision to purchase the kiosk.” 

Over the years, Edicola 518 has evolved from a traditional bookstore/newsstand into a dynamic cultural crossroads that perfectly fits the vibe of this university town. The space now hosts open-air events during the warmer months, free and accessible to the public, featuring both Italian and international guests. In its latest evolution, Edicola 518 expanded by opening Paradiso, a bookstore, in 2019, followed by Paradiso Liquido, a natural wine bar located across from the original kiosk. The carefully curated selection of around 150 wines features eye-catching bottles from independent producers—wines with stories that appeal to the same discerning clientele who frequent the edicola.