Algani

The shop loved by tourists from all over the world, since 1927

Famous for many years as the newsstand in Piazza della Scala, where politicians and singers from La Scala would go to read, today it is a point of reference for those seeking souvenirs of Milan.

Last October 6th, the shop favored by tourists from all over the world, where they can find all sorts of souvenirs of Milan, turned ninety-two. Prima era l’edicola di Piazza della Scala, dove passavano a “leggersi” sulle prime pagine dei quotidiani figure del calibro di Craxi e Spadolini, ma anche Gorbaciov e Di Pietro, ma passavano anche Riccardo Muti e Claudio Abbado, Pavarotti e Carla Fracci a leggere come i giornalisti celebravano un successo o decretavano un fiasco. It all began in 1927, when Bruno and Elena Algani opened their retail store selling newspapers, magazines, books, and postcards, effectively establishing one of the first international bookshops in Milan. Devono passare quasi cinquant’anni perché si aggiungano anche i souvenir fra gli articoli proposti alla clientela, destinati poi a prendere il sopravvento su tutto il resto, grazie all’evoluzione della città, di cui questo posto è testimone diretto e prezioso. In 1983, Francesco Semeraro and Francesca Morelli joined as new partners, later handing over the business to Roberto Buti and Maurizio Marinoni. It was 1998 when, after persistent requests and tempting offers, the Rizzoli bookstore managed to secure the acquisition of the business unit dealing with the sale of newspapers, dailies, and periodicals, giving new life to the publishing giant in the Galleria. Algani, along with the two sons of previous partners, continues to offer the best memories of Milan to tourists, who increasingly flock to the city center.