cartoleria pantheon

Cartoleria Pantheon, established 1910, is tucked away on a small street beside the Pantheon in Rome. I stumbled across it while on Easter break in 2003, and what a treasure for someone like me! The walls are lined with blank hand-crafted leather books, photo albums, and sketchbooks in many sizes and styles. They also sell old writing supplies - desks, fountain pens, blotters, and ink.

After spending a half hour looking and deciding, I settled on a 5.5″x7″ leatherbound traveler’s journal (similar to those seen here). The creamy paper and dark brown pebbled calfskin are exquisite. When I paid for it, the owner placed a small golden seal on the inside cover, with the name of the shop in Gothic black writing. This attention to detail and obvious love for the products in the shop was infectious and very romantic. It makes me wish I was a writer!

Unfortunately, I haven’t had many adventures to chronicle since that trip, and as such it’s still safe in the provided drawstring bag.

I highly suggest that if you are in Rome (as we all are from time to time, right?) and if you have a love for fine writing, you check out this gem of a shop.