“La Scatola Magica” with Dott. Anna Porcheddu, at the Italian Cultural Institute
“Il caffè letterario italiano a Sliema” with Carlo Morrone
This month Magic Box presents Carlo Morrone, publisher, who celebrates this year the 30th anniversary of Morrone Editore publishing house.
But what is a “caffè letterario”? “The literary café was once the preferred haunt of some of the greatest writers in European history. This is where the idler, the scrounger and the artist all felt at home”, writes Vineet Gill. It started developing in Europe between the eighteenth and the nineteenth century, as a place of meetings between writers and artists where ideas and opinions are compared and culture spreads.
The idea of creating an Italian café-bookshop goes back to a couple of years ago, but it only materialised last summer, when it was eventually opened. As a matter of fact, buying books written in Italian has never been easy in Malta, and many people had voiced this problem during previous editions of Valletta Book Festival. This encouraged Carlo and Bianca Minniti to create a space where people can meet or read a book or a newspaper, while enjoying a cup of good Italian coffee. And if Carlo is an expert in books, Bianca is certainly a coffee virtuoso. She prepares really delicious Italian espresso or cappuccino.
Carlo will answer all our questions before concluding the evening, with us, over a glass of wine and some treats.
Everybody is welcome and entrance is free.