The municipality of Rome loves culture but tourism much more, and has cleared out the row of stalls selling old books in Via delle Terme di Diocleziano for works that concern the area, “revalued” in view of the Holy Year 2025. it is difficult to foresee that instead of stalls selling old books there will be room in that precious space – between Piazza della Repubblica and Termini – for commercial activities relating to tourism, and it is probable that instead of books it will soon be possible for tourists to find beers and coffee and, why not, more or less blessed holy cards and Madonnas.
Among those who will be happy with the action of the municipality (which has many cultural workers who call themselves left-wing, even if it is often very difficult to realize this) there will also be companies, or private individuals, who sell books via the internet. But above all, the large bookstores in the area will be happy, as they have never liked the competition from used books and have always denigrated the stalls by saying that they were selling stolen books…
Yes, it was possible to find some “new products” at half price on their shelves, but they were mostly dismantled libraries, of children or widows who were hurrying to get rid of the books of the “dearly departed” that were only good for collecting dust. In long years of frequenting I can swear that I have witnessed the negotiations of an heir with a stall holder more than once. And what is certain is that, at always affordable prices, I have been able to find many unobtainable books on the stalls which have now been dismantled, old editions that have been out of print for years, from publishing houses that have disappeared for years. A good half of my library comes from street stalls (in multiple cities). And I often renewed it by reselling to the stallholders the same books that I had bought from them a long time ago, once I no longer needed them, no longer interested me.
Over time, I made friends with some stall holders who were decidedly nice and generous towards their most regular customers. And I really don’t know where they will be able to move, and they probably haven’t been offered any other space. A city, a truly great city, is also characterized by its “flea markets”, its “Porta Portese” (and it is hoped that this canonical and traditional place in Rome for second-hand and poor goods will not sooner or later be taken over targeted by some progressive junta).
Space for tourists and those who profit from them, space for the wealthy middle class, therefore, of which, with their economic or political gains, also include the large booksellers and the many beneficiaries and profiteers of tourism.
And make way for predetermined cultures, which could end up – sooner or later – also getting the better of publishers and booksellers, and of free universities.
Tags: Goodbye stalls unbridled tourism
