Salento bookshop Libreria Idrusa awarded national “Straordinaria” prize

Libreria Idrusa, founded in Alessano in 2004 by Michela Santoro, won the inaugural national prize Straordinaria, promoted by Ali - the Italian booksellers association of Confcommercio, recognized for making the bookshop "a living place that welcomes, inspires and brings people together".

The official award ceremony took place on Saturday, 16 May 2026, during the XXXVIII Turin International Book Fair. The prize highlights the bookshop's social role as a cultural stronghold: Idrusa has brought books to squares and schools and launched workshops, reading groups and training programs.

• Public vote: more than 10,000 preferences from readers who nominated their favourite bookshop.
• Final selection: the ten most voted realities were evaluated by a jury of experts who chose the winner.
• Cultural activities: storytelling workshops for children, discussion groups and training for teachers.

At the fair the twelfth edition of the Armonia. Narrazioni in Terra d’Otranto festival, organized by the bookshop and the association NarrAzioni, was also presented: it opened with a preview on 10 May and will traverse Salento and Puglia until October, visiting Specchia, Lucugnano, Alessano, Lecce, Castrignano del Capo, Santa Maria di Leuca and Bari.