Idrusa bookshop awarded the "Straordinaria" prize

Idrusa, founded in 2004 in Alessano (Lecce) by Michela Santoro, won the inaugural "Straordinaria" award for Italian bookshops. The prize, promoted by ALI - Association of Italian Booksellers (Confcommercio), aims to highlight the daily work of bookshops and their cultural and social role in local areas.

The official award ceremony took place today during the 38th Turin International Book Fair: the winner emerged after a public voting phase and a final assessment by an expert jury.

• Public vote: more than 10,000 preferences collected from readers who nominated and voted for their favourite bookshop.
• Jury: the ten most voted bookshops were evaluated by Enza Campino, Giulia Favero, Maria Grazia Ligato, Mario Natangelo and Carmelo Romano.
• Reason: "For making the bookshop a living place, able to welcome, inspire and bring people together. A stronghold of culture and humanity."

The award highlights the importance of bookshops as community spaces where ideas, relationships and cultural initiatives are born.