Bookshops: Mondadori opens ‘La Scugnizzeria’ in Scampia, dedicated to Antonio Landieri, a victim of the Camorra

From today, Scampia will have a bookshop. The result of a project by Mondadori Store, Italia’s largest network of bookshops, in collaboration with its affiliates Rosario Esposito La Rossa and Maddalena Stornaiuolo – who are active in Naples through the cultural, social and publishing initiative ‘La Scugnizzeria’ – the bookshop is situated in an area with a large youth and student population but which, until now, has lacked any literary venues.

The opening of the new Mondadori Bookstore, La Scugnizzeria, thus contributes to the neighbourhood’s growth: the bookshop will be a space dedicated to reading, discussion and engagement, meeting the local area’s genuine need for new cultural hubs, whilst promoting events and partnerships designed to stimulate the social fabric of Scampia.

Among the initial proposals is the establishment of a partnership with Federico II University, Naples City Council and the Volturno Autonomous Authority to promote reading at various institutional levels.

The bookshop will be dedicated to the memory of Antonio Landieri, a 25-year-old who was an innocent victim of the Camorra in 2004, and will open next to the entrance to Piscinola-Scampia station, just a short walk from the scene of the ambush. The opening of the Mondadori Bookstore in Scampia will take place today at 6 pm. The event will be attended by numerous institutional figures, including: Gaetano Manfredi, Mayor of Naples; Onofrio Giustino Angelo Cutaia, Councillor for Culture for the Campania Region; Pietro Diamantini, director of the Ente Autonomo Volturno; Nicola Nardella, president of the 8th Municipality of Naples; Mario Casillo, vice-president of the Campania Region and councillor for transport; and Alessandro Russo, secretary-general of the Fondazione Campania dei Festival. The Scampia bookshop project will be presented by Carmine Perna, Chief Executive of Mondadori Retail, alongside Rosario Esposito La Rossa and Maddalena Stornaiuolo, the creators of ‘La Scugnizzeria’ and owners of the Marotta & Cafiero publishing group. Also in attendance will be the anti-mafia organisation Libera and the Association of Relatives of Innocent Victims of the Camorra. During the opening ceremony, local artist Nitro will also perform a live painting session.

“The opening of the Mondadori Bookstore in Scampia is the result of a deliberate decision, aimed at guaranteeing everyone the right to read through the cultural offering of our bookshops, which are designed as genuine spaces for meeting, participation and the sharing of ideas. It is through projects such as this that our network is best able to fulfil its mission: to provide the local community – in this case, one of Italia’s youngest neighbourhoods – with spaces dedicated to all lovers of reading and entertainment,” says Carmine Perna, managing director of Mondadori Retail.