Mantova Libri Mappe Stampe 2026: Italy's long-running antiquarian book

Mantova Libri Mappe Stampe 2026: Italy's long-running antiquarian book fair returns to the Diocesan Museum cloister

Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 May 2026 the cloister of the Museo Diocesano Francesco Gonzaga will host the 13th edition of Mantova Libri Mappe Stampe, Italy's longest-running fair dedicated to antiquarian books and paper collecting. The event, with free admission, attracts bibliophiles, scholars and collectors from across Europe.

• Venue: Cloister of the Museo Diocesano Francesco Gonzaga, Mantova (under the arcades of the former Sant'Agnese monastery).
• Dates and hours: Saturday 16 May from 10:00 to 18:30; Sunday 17 May from 09:30 to 13:00. Trade entry reserved for merchants on Friday 15 May at 15:00.
• Edition: 13th edition, with more than sixty Italian and international exhibitors (antiquarian booksellers, cartographic specialists and printmakers).
• Programme highlights: incunabula, 16th-century editions, antique maps, atlases, original engravings and rare out-of-print works.
• Organization: curated by Elisabetta Casanova, with the patronage of the Municipality of Mantova and the Roberto Almagià association; media partners Maremagnum and Abebooks.

The fair is both a market and a cultural forum where the physical qualities of paper—texture, ink and print—are celebrated. Beyond collecting, the event underscores the role of books and maps in preserving historical memory and fostering research. More information: www.mantovalibriestampe.com and [email protected].