by InTrieste
The historic Umberto Saba Antiquarian Bookstore reopened on Tuesday under new management, marking a significant moment for one of Trieste’s most beloved cultural landmarks.
Massimo Battista, the new manager, aims to bring a fresh approach to the bookstore while maintaining its tradition of offering rare and antiquarian books. The store will now also feature a carefully curated selection of works by contemporary local authors and “poetic objects,” described as unique literary-themed items.
“Times are changing, and so is the audience. Our goal is to welcome new visitors to this space,” Battista said at the reopening event. “It is both a great responsibility and a true pleasure.”
The bookstore, which retains ownership under the Cerne family, also unveiled a new logo designed by Paolo Prossen. Inspired by Saba’s poem L’arboscello (The Little Tree), the logo features the silhouette of a tree reaching upward, evoking the image of an open book with its pages fanned out.
For decades, the Cerne family has preserved the legacy of the poet Umberto Saba, whose longtime assistant and store employee eventually took over the business. Now, they have chosen to entrust its management to Battista.
The property itself remains owned by the local Jewish Community, which oversaw its restoration through a city-supported fundraising effort. Future plans may involve expanding the bookstore’s business structure, though no specific timeline has been announced.
The reopening signals a new chapter for the bookstore, which has long been a symbol of Trieste’s literary and cultural heritage.
