Italian bookseller Eligio Pontiggia dies, remembered for reading 10,000 volumes

Eligio Pontiggia, a longtime bookseller in Varese, was known for having read every one of the ten thousand books displayed in his shop. His store attracted cultural figures such as former President Francesco Cossiga, singer‑songwriter Nanni Svampa and journalist Tiziano Terzani. Pontiggia has now passed away, prompting reflections on his unique dedication to literature.

Mirco Pecci, the proprietor of the La Riminese bookstore in Rimini, also left his shop, which will be renamed Librerie Coop. Colleagues and readers praised Pecci as a “minestraio of paper stories,” noting his poetic tributes, his care for readers and his role in fostering a community of book lovers. His departure has been marked with heartfelt acknowledgments of his contribution to the local literary scene.