Giunti to transform Florence's historic Odeon cinema into a mega bookstore

The Giunti publishing group announced plans to convert the historic Cinema Odeon in Florence into a multifunctional space housing a bookstore, restaurant, and exhibition area. The project, named 'Giunti Odeon', will occupy over 1,500 square meters of the Renaissance-era Palazzo dello Strozzino, which has housed the cinema since 1936. Designed by the Florentine architecture firm Benaim, the renovation aims to preserve the original Art Deco decorations, including sculptures by Bernardo Marescalchi and Antonio Maraini, while adding a bookstore from Giunti's chain of 248 outlets. The cinema will continue to host evening film screenings curated by director Gloria Germani and critic Marco Luceri. A petition and open letter signed by 48 cultural operators have raised concerns about the potential loss of the venue's cinematic identity, citing partial heritage protections. CEO Martino Montanarini defended the project as an expansion of cultural offerings, integrating books, music, and art. The opening is scheduled for autumn-winter 2022, coinciding with the cinema's centenary. The initiative follows similar conversions like El Ateneo Grand Splendid in Buenos Aires.