Roma

There is lots to see in Rome, but for a pen enthusiast take a trip to Novelli -- is a great pen store choked full of pens. The store is located just off the main street of Via del Corso just up from the Piazza Venezia and very near the Piazza S. Apostoli.

My first visit to the store was in 1997 and I enjoyed meeting with Marco's father, Augusto Parascenzo. He showed his large collection of current, limited editions and vintage pens with great pride -- and so he should. We talked pens and enjoyed a great dinner at a nearby restaurant. His wife, Giusy, has been trained by pen companies on the repair of pens. The store has been in operation for the past 35 years.

When I returned, some three years later I was saddened to find that Augusto had passed away. His family is carrying on the business and I enjoyed my visit with his son Marco and daughter Sabrina. I have visited the store many times since then in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006 and again in 2007. Marco and Sabrina run a great shop, the always have a bottle of ink ready so that you can try the nib... a point on which far too many pen stores fail.

As I look back over the many years that I have shopped at Novelli, I have concluded that many of my best pens have been purchased at this store.

My Waterman L'Etoile, Montegrappa Extra, Stipula Etruria, Omas Paragon in Saffron Blue, Omas Bologna Line Burkina, the new Omas Paragon and in 2007 the new Arte Italiana Arco Celluloid are all from Novelli. Many of these are my Pens of Note. In 2007, after visiting the OMAS factory, I just knew an OMAS pen was in order.

Novelli carries a good range of pen nibs and he enjoys his relationship with his customers. Pick up a pen, and a bottle of ink is brought out, your pen is dipped and you can try it out. There are so many stores that have watched me hold a pen and never bring out the ink to let me write with it. This, afterall, is what the pen experience is all about.

Novelli is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm and from 4:00 pm to 7:30 pm. Saturday is is open from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 7:30 pm. The store is closed for the month of August.

Easy to find: Via del Corso runs up from the Momument Vittorio Emanuelle II. Just three blocks up, turn right on Via Dell 'Umilta. First block in turn right again you are on via di San Marcello. After visiting Novelli you are only three blocks from the Trevi Fountain, three or four blocks from the Pantheon. We always make it a Trevi Fountain, Novelli Pen, Pantheon and Piazza Navona walk!

When I was in Rome in 2007 I was able to get over to the Stilograph Corsani - a good pen store in Rome. I was last in the store back in 2000.

It remains a one of my "great pen stores" and is defintely worth a visitI had been told that this was a great pen store with a good stock of pens.

I met with Stefano, his grandfather started the store back in 1924 and it has been family run ever since.

Located on Via Ottaviano, not far from St. Peter's Square, it began as a book and stationery store. Following World War II, Mario De Leo, the son of the founder dedicated the store to pens.

The store carries a good selection of all pen lines as well as limited editions. The prices looked good also. The store is easy to get to by using the Metro Linea A, Ottaviano-S. Pietro station.

Stilo Fetti

Via egli Orfani, 82

Roma, Italy

Giovanni Abrata has written me about this great "historical" shop. It has remained the way it was 50 years ago. This is probably the oldest pen shop in Italy, having been established in 1893. It has been owned and operated by the Felli family since then. This is where a lot of famous people, especially politicians, come to buy their pens and ink bottles. As Giovanni recommended, when you go to Rome, you must go to Stilo Fetti. So on my September 2001 visit to Rome I went to the store. Great place! Located just off the Patntheon on the walk towards the Piazza Navona it is easy to find. You walk into the store and there are two large pen cases/counters... along the ways just about every inch has pens. There were two great large ink wells on the counters that I offered to buy! No luck! In the back room is a full selection of Mont Blanc pens as well as a range of brief cases and other desk accessories.

Although the staff only speak Italian you will have no problem in the store. The staff were very friendly. Worth a visit!

Rinaldi
Via Veneto, 86
Roma, Italy
e-Mail

Here is a very nice little pen shop on the at Via Veneto, 86. A young couple run the store and sells pens at competitive prices. Just recently T. Lucas wrote to confirm this store is worth a visit. Don't be mistaken by the appearance of this being a small shop. Ask a few questions and you will be amazed at the trays of pens that come out from the back of the store. (Thanks: P Russell, T. Lucas).

Burchi & De Sanctis

Via Frattina, 124

Roma, Italy
Tel: +39.06.678930 and +39.06.6792631
Fax: +39.06.6990857

I have had a number of readers write me about Burchi & De Sanctis in Rome and I was pleased to visit their store again on a visit to Rome in 2007. On this visit I had an opportunity to speak with Carlo Cristiano.

This is a long term company, with Burchi & De Sanctis being in business since 1914. You will find this a well established store that specializes in pens, briefcases and other leather assessories.

I have always found this shop to be stylish with a full range of pens and assessories. The store also carries a very good assortment of leather assessories. In fact, I still have the pen case that I purchased on my very first visit to the store. The staff were very friendly and they made me feel at home.

The store is easy to find. It is located on via Frattina, just down from the Spanish Steps. Via Frattina has fashionable shops and an interesting street to walk... so you won't be dragging your partner down an uninteresting street while you proclaim "I know there is a pen store just ahead...".

Comments on the store that I have received from others are also very positive. The store is open Monday to Saturday, from 10:00 in the morning until 7:30 in the evening.