The Urbanist: Tall Stories 492

Todo Modo, Florence

Date: January 19, 2026
Host: Andrew Tuck
Reporter: Grace Charlton

Overview

This episode of "Tall Stories," part of Monocle’s Urbanist podcast, explores the impact of Todo Modo, a Florentine bookstore that has expanded into a multifaceted cultural hub. The focus is on how this independent business fosters local engagement amid Florence’s overwhelming tourism, and how it plays a vital role in modernizing the city’s cultural narrative.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Everyday Urban Features as Community Assets

• Opening Thought (00:09):
  Andrew Tuck introduces the idea that humble urban venues—like a bookstore—can significantly enrich city life, especially in cities dominated by tourism.

  "How can the everyday features of a city landscape become an extraordinary boon to their urban environment? In Florence, a humble bookstore which opened in 2013 has become an integral part of its community and an important reminder that supporting locals in a tourist hotspot is endlessly important."
  – Andrew Tuck (00:09)

2. Todo Modo: More Than a Bookshop

• Location & Offerings (00:47):
  Todo Modo, on Via Dei Fossi near the Arno, opened in 2013. It houses a bookshop, café, and enoteca, but has since evolved into a “media empire”—including a publishing imprint, annual book fair ("Testo"), radio station, newsletter, and a kiosk in Fiesole.

• Founders’ Vision (01:10):
  Founders Maddalena Fossombroni and Pietro Torrigiani, lifelong Florentines, wanted to create a space for locals to gather, discuss books, and exchange recommendations amidst a city shaped—and often overwhelmed—by tourism.

  • They observed an exodus of Florentine friends to other Italian cities less shaped by mass tourism, inspiring the project.

3. Supporting Locals in a Tourist-Heavy City

• A Haven for Residents (01:40):
  With Florence drawing over 5 million tourists annually (versus a resident population of 380,000–1 million metro), Todo Modo serves as a much-needed respite from crowds, designed for day-to-day Florentines rather than tourists or transient students.

  "Their intention with Todomodo was to offer something to Florentine locals that doesn't cater to mass tourism or international students on a semester abroad, a particularly salient topic in Florence, the city attracts over 5 million visitors each year, a number that dwarfs its population..."
  – Grace Charlton (01:40)

4. Evolving Florence’s Cultural Conversation

• Moving Beyond The Renaissance (02:30):
  Florence’s identity is deeply tied to its Renaissance grandeur. Todo Modo represents a new generation's effort to propel the city’s culture forward—beyond Botticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Medici legacy. While the city’s heritage is an international draw, it can also stagnate cultural evolution.

  "Florence's historical heft and heritage is ultimately something of a paradox. It attracts cultural attention ... Yet struggles to move the conversation forward, but a new generation of Florentines is aspiring to go beyond Dante, the Uffizi, and the lasting influence of the Medicis..."
  – Grace Charlton (02:56)

• Community-Led Renaissance (03:20):
  The episode concludes by positioning Todo Modo at the forefront of this cultural renewal, offering a blueprint for strengthening local culture and relevance in the 21st century.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Founders' Motivation:
  "But it was when they noticed that their friends who they'd grown up with, were leaving their hometown to seek greener, less tourism oriented pastures..."
  – Grace Charlton (01:24)

• On the Business's Reach:
  "...today the business has grown into something of a media empire, one that includes a publishing imprint, an annual book fair called Testo, a radio station, a newsletter and a kiosk in the northern Florentine suburb of Fiesole."
  – Grace Charlton (00:59)

• On Florence’s Cultural Future:
  "What started as a bookshop and now comprises an entire community, Todo Modo is at the forefront of the movement, ensuring a continuing cultural relevance for Florence in the 21st century."
  – Grace Charlton (03:28)

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------| | 00:09 | Introduction to the theme—local spaces in cities | | 00:47 | History and growth of Todo Modo | | 01:24 | Founders’ motivation to support locals | | 01:40 | The challenge of Florence’s heavy tourism | | 02:30 | Florence’s cultural identity and stagnation | | 03:20 | Todo Modo as a model for community revival |

Tone & Style

• The episode is thoughtful and celebratory, blending admiration for Florence’s heritage with a practical look at local innovation.
• The language is reflective, with an undercurrent of encouragement for cities to nurture spaces that put locals at the forefront.

Summary:
This episode highlights how Todo Modo, by prioritizing residents and fostering year-round cultural dialogues, demonstrates the power of independent venues to shape the urban and cultural future of historic cities like Florence.