2025

Mondadori Store today opens a new neighbourhood bookstore concept in Milan, designed specifically for the historic Mercato Rombon, which reopens to the public following a major redevelopment project carried out by Sogemi and the Municipality of Milan.With this new format of proximity, the largest network of bookshops in Italy comes even closer to the interests and needs of readers in residential areas, creating a space in which the bookshop becomes a symbol of sharing and sociability, capable of dialogue with other forms of expression and togetherness.

The Mondadori Bookstore also contributes to extending the offer of the renovated Rombon Market by making it more transversal, contemporary and culturally lively.

“Mondadori Retail is proud to have worked with the Municipality of Milan and Sogemi on the reopening of Mercato Rombon, an important community hub in the Feltre district, in the Lambrate area,” said Carmine Perna, Chief Executive Officer of Mondadori Retail. “In line with our goal of promoting reading and creating new cultural landmarks, this opening is particularly meaningful as it brings a cultural offer that combines the world of books with a strong focus on the local area and its social fabric. This project also gives us the opportunity to evolve our bookstore format, demonstrating its flexibility and capacity for reinterpretation in a neighbourhood context,” Perna concluded.

The connection between the bookstore and the local community will be further strengthened through numerous initiatives and collaborations, particularly with nearby schools. Among these is the “Alunni in libreria (Pupils in the Bookstore)” series of events, aimed at making the store a reference point not only for families but also for younger generations, fostering both reading and cultural participation.

The new Mondadori Store covers 100 square metres, purpose-designed to meet the needs of the neighbourhood it serves. The catalogue of more than 7,000 titles includes great classics and bestsellers across fiction, non-fiction and international literature. There are also a number of specialised areas, such as the We are Junior section dedicated to younger readers, featuring educational games and picture books designed to spark their imagination through engaging stories, and the Just Comics area focused on the ever-growing world of manga and graphic novels. To further enrich the bookstore’s offering, there are also dedicated sections for the romance and fantasy  genres, popular with new generations of readers, alongside a wide selection of stationery, toys, gifts and gift cards.

The Mondadori Store at Mercato Rombon  is also available online. Customers can stay up to date via the store’s  Instagram and Facebook pages, and make use of the digital services offered by mondadoristore.it to check book availability, place orders, and choose whether to collect their purchases in store or have them delivered to their home.

The new Mondadori Bookstore is part of the ongoing renewal and development plan of Mondadori Store, Italy’s largest network of bookstores, with more than 500 shops ranging from major cities to smaller towns. A true cultural hub active across the country, Mondadori Store also operates online through mondadoristore.it and its bookclub format, combining a passion for books – always at the heart of its offer – with entertainment experiences, events and multichannel services, reaching over 20 million customers every year.

MONDADORI BOOKSTORE

Address: via Rombon, 34, 20134 Milano MI
Opening hours: Monday – Saturday 8:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
E-mail: libreriamilanorombon@mondadori.it
IG – FB

A new generation of AI-powered teaching tools is making its debut on HUB Scuola, the digital platform by Mondadori Education, Rizzoli Education, and Deascuola. The AI Tutor for Digital Textbooks and the AI Tutor for Teachers’ Areas are two innovative tools that enrich the platform used by the three educational publishers of the Mondadori Group, offering advanced methods for both study and teaching.

Artificial intelligence is becoming a valuable resource to make learning more effective, accessible and personalised, both in the classroom and at home, while enhancing the active role of teachers and students within a safe environment. All of this is in line with the guidelines of the Italian Ministry of Education and Merit for the introduction of AI in schools.

“Our commitment to educational and digital innovation is an everyday one, as is our presence in schools. We know that the world of AI is evolving rapidly but we also believe that it already represents an opportunity and a challenge for education. It is a challenge that, as publishers, we must be ready to take on by offering constructive, safe, ethical and sustainable initiatives,” said Paolo Reniero, Director of Digital and Strategic Marketing at Mondadori Education. “With HUB Scuola, we want to offer a model of AI that serves teaching and learning, with an approach that reinforces the central, active role of teachers and students, and digital tools that promote personalised learning paths without replacing individual effort,” Reniero added.

• THE AI TUTOR FOR DIGITAL TEXTBOOKS: A VALUABLE STUDY COMPANION

The AI Tutor for Digital Textbooks is a virtual study companion designed to guide students through their learning journey. It does not replace the textbook but enhances it, acting as an ally that offers clear explanations and targeted examples, reworking textual and visual information to make it more understandable and generating review exercises that help consolidate knowledge.

The AI Tutor’s responses are based exclusively on the textbook adopted in class and its digital resources, ensuring consistency, reliability and full alignment with the school level. This makes studying more personalised, stimulating curiosity and making learning more engaging. Teachers can also use the Tutor to create customised activities based on textbook topics.

With this project, HUB Scuola is taking its teaching approach to the next level, introducing safe and reliable tools built on solid educational principles. The aim is to help lower and upper secondary students make responsible and meaningful use of new technologies in their learning journey.

• THE AI TUTOR FOR TEACHER AREAS: AN ASSISTANT FOR LESSON PLANNING

HUB Scuola also provides a dedicated AI Tutor for teachers, designed to help them create lessons and teaching plans that are coherent with educational goals and tailored to the class profile. Using natural language, teachers can interact with the AI Tutor in the Teachers’ Areas to build complete lesson plans enriched with certified digital resources. The Tutor can handle a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, flipped classrooms, cooperative learning and guided debates, based on the teacher’s input. It can also help balance lesson stages, suggesting strategies for time management and student engagement according to different learning levels and styles.

HUB Scuola (www.hubscuola.it) is the digital learning platform from Mondadori Education, Rizzoli Education and Deascuola, providing teachers and students with digital textbooks, supplementary content and tools for teaching and learning. The three educational publishers of the Mondadori Group offer a complete range of materials for all school levels, from primary to secondary and university. The catalogue also includes cross-disciplinary learning paths focused on inclusion, orientation, STEM subjects, civic education, the environment and digital citizenship.

AdKaora, the international Martech digital agency of the Mondadori Group, together with Hej!, specialised in conversational marketing, and Meaningfool, a next-gen creative agency partly owned by Mondadori Media, supported Alcon in promoting the free trial of its Precision1 contact lenses at the new pop-up in Piazza Gae Aulenti, in the Porta Nuova district of Milan.

The three companies designed a complete funnel, where digital strategy, creator-led video content, performance marketing and in-store experience come together to create an integrated drive-to-store campaign, running from September 16th to December 15th.

With this project, AdKaora, Hej! and Meaningfool launched a new framework that combines data, technology, media and creativity, redefining both the user experience and the relationship between digital channels and physical retail spaces, while measuring the overall impact.

THE DRIVE-TO-STORE CAMPAIGN

AdKaora implemented a mix of channels and technologies to reach the target audience and drive traffic to the pop-up. Interactive rich media formats were used to boost engagement and raise product awareness, while a blend of display and social drive-to-store activities increased visibility and encouraged visitors to experience the event in person. Key measurement tools included Footfall analysis – to assess the campaign’s impact on pop-up visits – and Brand Lift studies to evaluate campaign effectiveness in terms of brand recall and perception, while also gathering valuable socio-demographic insights on the target audience.

Hej! brought its expertise in Conversational Performance Marketing to the project, integrating a conversational strategy that used personalised messages and customer journeys to generate interest, inform users about the features of the lenses, and guide them towards booking a free trial at the pop-up. This one-to-one approach not only improved the quality of the leads collected but also strengthened customer relationships, offering seamless integration with Alcon’s booking system.

Meaningfool, meanwhile, designed and produced a UGC video campaign on Meta that ran throughout the entire funnel. Three creators brought the pop up’s storytelling, built around the parallel between finding the right “feeling” with your contact lenses and in a romantic relationship, to a new, more ironic level. The free trial of Precision1 lenses became a playful opportunity to see people better on first dates, the complimentary pouch for visitors turned into a place to stash failed flings, and the pocket mirror became a tool to spark a chance encounter on the street. The creators guided the audience through every step: sharing full details of the initiative, recounting their own first hand experience, and highlighting the top three reasons not to miss the trial.

The two performance campaigns that closed the funnel, both aimed at driving online bookings, included a first video with multiple creative variants for testing, followed by a second retargeting video.

A journey into the heart of research, from space exploration to genetics, from the Big Bang to music. A place to meet astronauts, scientists, athletes, artists and science communicators, to experience science first-hand in every dimension, to explore discoveries and innovations, to learn through curiosity and fun, and to offer everyone the chance to understand and explore our universe in an interactive, engaging way. All this and more is Passion, the theme chosen for the new edition of Focus Live 2025, taking place at the National Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo da Vinci in Milan from 7^th to 9^th November, with three days of talks, workshops and immersive experiences.

The Festival of Knowledge, created and organised by Focus –  Italy’s most widely read magazine among enthusiasts of technology, science, sustainability and innovation, directed by Gian Mattia Bazzoli  – reaches its eighth edition this  year, confirming the success of a format that in 2024 attracted and engaged more than 18.000 visitors.

“As every year, Focus Live returns in November. In this new edition, everything is connected by a single thread: passion. This theme truly represents us: it drives the Focus editorial team, and we know it belongs to our readers too, who have always been passionate about science and discovery. But it’s also what we’ve seen in the countless scientists, astronauts, communicators, athletes and explorers who’ve joined us over the years. We’ve seen them up close, met them, and watched them in action. Beyond their undeniable expertise – and sometimes genius – there’s always something they share: an inexhaustible energy. We’ve realised that this passion is what drives a researcher not to give up and an explorer to look beyond the horizon. And it’s exactly this energy we’ll be celebrating from 7^th to 9^th November at the National Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo da Vinci in Milan,” said Gian Mattia Bazzoli, Editor-in-Chief of Focus.

Open to the public and completely free of charge (booking required), Focus Live has, for eight years, invited people to reflect on the crucial role of science in shaping our future, and to explore the achievements of human knowledge in an accessible, engaging way: from physics to medicine, biology to genetics, environmental protection to technology and digital communication. Throughout the festival, visitors will be guided on an experiential and exploratory journey to discover how, even in science – where method and rationality reign supreme – passion, together with curiosity, is the essential force that drives researchers to persevere and redefine our future.

Focus Live 2025 will open on Friday 7^th November at 10 a.m. with a very special guest: ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, who will share her “space passions”, between personal experiences and reflections on the future of space exploration and research.

The programme will feature over 100 events, with innovative formats, a mix of genres and disciplines – music and nature, theatre and biology, sport and technology, cooking – and a wide range of authoritative voices animating the Main Stage, Speakers’ Corner, Creators’ Corner and Kids Area.

The festival will come to life across its stages, each opening a window on curiosity. On Main Stage, leading figures from science and culture will explore some of today’s most fascinating and topical themes. Among them: how our body might react if it had superpowers; the new frontiers of genetic research with Luigi Naldini, Director of the San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy; the Olympic championMara Navarria on science, sacrifice and the joy of achieving a dream; journalist Matteo Bordoneanalysing the age-old bond between humans and cats; physicist Guido Tonelli exploring the “wonder of the quantum void”; and Massimo Temporelli, who will literally draw physics live on stage. Visitors will also discover the chemistry of chocolate with Ernst Knam, learn how neuroscience reveals the unconscious mechanisms behind our purchasing choices with Vincenzo Russo, hear the extraordinary story of a musician who underwent brain surgery while awake with neurosurgeon Christian Brogna, and learn how to avoid the traps of pseudoscience with Beatrice Mautino. The Main Stage will also host key institutional voices, including Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, Italy’s Minister for the Environment and Energy Security, who will address the topic of the energy transition.

For those seeking a more focused and personal deep dive, the Speakers’ Corner will offer direct contact with experts. This space will host in-depth dialogues, where visitors can, for example, watch the 3D printing of organs with the University of Milan, explore how artificial intelligence can help prevent crime, discover how organoids work with Simona Lodato  from Humanitas University, and debunk fake news about neurodivergence withAntonella Costantino. They will also be able to look at the future of agriculture with Patrick Gerlich, and go in search of lost civilisations with Carolina Orsini from Mudec in Milan. Next door, the Creators’ Corner will give a platform to digital science communicators who bring science to life on social media every day. For younger visitors (aged 2 to 13), the Kids Area, curated by Focus Junior, will feature a 300-square-metre laboratory where children can discover the joy of STEM subjects by getting hands-on with science. Throughout the festival, attendees can book guided tours of the Leonardo Galleries and the Spazio Area, step into the shoes of a real astronaut at Base Marte, or try The Touch, an innovative sensory escape game blending reality and virtuality in a Mars-based adventure. The new i.lab Sostenibilità will also be open, inviting visitors—through games, experiments, and immersive installations—to understand what makes a product or an action sustainable, taking into account every element within its wider system.

Among the confirmed guests are researcher Nicole Soranzo, who studies the DNA of Europeans; Elio e le Storie Tese, who will deliver a “very serious” lesson on their unique vision of musical passion; astrophysicists  Amedeo Balbi and Luca Perri, and science communicator Federico Taddia with a surprising take on Albert Einstein.

Rounding out the programme will be two evening shows: on Friday 7^th November at 8.30 pm, Federico Basso will host La scienza vista dal Basso, a light-hearted quiz show that makes learning about science fun; while on Saturday 8^th November at 8.30 pm, Massimo Polidoro will present Delitto al museo, an immersive crime night that will take participants inside the minds of investigators and the labs of forensic scientists to solve a mysterious case set in the museum itself.

The festival will close on Sunday at 6.30 pm with Luca Perri and Giacomo Moro Mauretto in La passione è un motore o un freno a mano?

What’s new

Many new features for this year’s edition of the festival. The first big news is that Focus Live 2025 will take place in the Cavallerizze area of the National Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo da Vinci. Located next to the Enrico Toti submarine, between the Monumental Building and the Aeronaval Pavilion, the Cavallerizze are today the result of an important architectural restoration and urban redevelopment project. Originally built in the 19^th century, when the Olivetan monastery was converted into barracks, the spaces feature vast interiors, exposed brick walls and large windows.

Inside, visitors will find a large 5-metre-diameter inflatable planetarium, created in collaboration with PLANit. This won’t just be a place to gaze at the night sky, but a truly immersive, hands-on experience.

There will also be another stage — the most immersive of all — located in the Outdoor Area. After all, passion is not just something to listen to, but something to live. The Experience Areas will be richer than ever: visitors can step inside a tent used by researchers from the University of Milano-Bicocca for ice core drilling in glaciers and Antarctica, travel back in time to the Big Bang aboard a massive EGO Observatory truck, explore new worlds through virtual reality headsets, or play with the geometric tessellations of Università Cattolica. They can also test their skills on simulators, challenge artificial intelligence systems, or try rock climbing on an artificial wall — an exciting activity with wide-ranging physical and mental benefits.

Eni will also be part of Focus Live, presenting Supercalcolo, Super passione, an installation designed by Amigdala.ch (a Swiss studio specialising in new technology applications). The project explores the power of supercomputing — the silent force behind research, industry and everyday life — and builds unique stories in real time. Each visitor, through their own choices, will have the chance to create a personalised narrative with AI, both in text and voice form.

Event booking opens today on www.focuslive.it Two time slots are available: morning (10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.) and afternoon (2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m). Those wishing to stay all day can, of course, book both sessions.

Waiting for Focus Live 2025

Once again, Focus Live extends beyond its three festival days with a series of preparatory events, offering audiences a chance to experience science and culture in advance. For the first time, Aspettando Focus Live has expanded beyond Milan — visiting Naples in May and soon Turin, where on 25^th October at 3:15 p.m. at the Infini.to Planetarium, the event Sotto le stelle di Torino a caccia di nuovi mondi will take place — an immersive journey through exoplanets with astrophysicists. Davide Gandolfi and Gloria Guilluy, experts in exoplanetary research and climate.

Partners and sponsors

This year’s edition of Focus Live is made possible through the collaboration and support of a wide range of institutions, research centres and universities, including: ADMaiora, ASI, Business&Roads, European Gravitational Observatory (EGO), ESA, FBK, Human Technopole, IIT, INAF, Istituto Superiore Sant’Anna, JRC – Joint Research Centre, Kosmos, PLANit – Associazione dei Planetari Italiani, Politecnico di Torino, Smonting, Think About Science, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Università degli Studi di Milano, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Università degli Studi di Trieste.

Focus Live is a Mondadori Media event, organised in collaboration with the National Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo da Vinci and numerous partners.

MAIN PARTNERS: Eni, Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security

PARTNERS: Bayer, Grotte di Frasassi, Humanitas University, Jordan Oral Care, Subito, Toyota Motor Italia

CONTENT PARTNERS: AIRC Foundation for Cancer Research, Mondadori Education

OFFICIAL RADIO: R101

In collaboration with the Cultural Olympiad of Milan Cortina 2026

AREA KIDS powered by Focus Junior

Advertising sales for Focus Live are managed by Piemme S.p.A., the brand’s exclusive advertising agency.

The communication campaign and creative concept for the event set-up were developed by Zampe Diverse, with production and organisational management by Left & Right.

Mondadori Store, Italy’s largest bookstore network, is expanding its partnership with Zeercle, one of Europe’s leading providers of book buyback services. The initiative, launched exclusively in Italy last June, has already collected more than 100,000 used books in over 300 Mondadori Store locations participating in the project.

Starting today, customers can give new life not only to their books – from fiction to non-fiction, children’s titles to timeless classics – but also to CDs, vinyl records, physical video games, DVDs and Blu-rays. In return, they will receive a gift card corresponding to the assessed value of the item, redeemable at Mondadori Store bookstores and on Mondadoristore.it.

Mondadori Store and Zeercle support reading with #IoLeggoPerché

To mark the tenth anniversary of #IoLeggoPerché, Mondadori Store and Zeercle have joined forces to bring a love of reading to schools.

From 7 to 16 November, Mondadori Store will donate one euro for every Zeercle trade-in made during the campaign to the three schools partnered with its bookstores that receive the highest number of book donations as part of #IoLeggoPerché.

The total amount collected will be shared equally among the three schools and converted into gift cards of the same value, redeemable in Mondadori Store bookshops. The initiative offers an additional opportunity to enrich school libraries and nurture students’ passion for reading.

“At the heart of Mondadori Retail’s mission is the promotion of culture, which is why we have chosen to support, together with Zeercle, such an important initiative as #IoLeggoPerché, dedicated to encouraging reading in schools,” said Francesco Riganti, Marketing Director of Mondadori Retail. “Through this project, with a single gesture people can not only give new value to books, CDs and DVDs, but also make a tangible contribution to supporting school libraries, further strengthening the bond between schools and our bookstores across the country,” Riganti concluded.

Three weekends dedicated to Zeercle Days

But Mondadori Store and Zeercle’s activities do not stop here. Following their success across Europe, Zeercle Days are now arriving in Italy for the first time: three weekends featuring dedicated Zeercle corners set up in shopping centres. Customers will be able to drop off their books and other items appraised on Zeercle and receive a Mondadori Store gift card of equal value, plus a €10 shopping voucher to use within the host shopping centre (for deposits of at least €20).

The Zeercle Days will take place on 18–19 October at the La Romanina shopping centre (Rome), 25–26 October at I Gigli (Florence), and 1–2 November at Vialarga (Bologna). Full terms and conditions are available at mondadoristore.it.

HOW DOES THE ZEERCLE SERVICE WORK?

The service offered by Mondadori Store in partnership with Zeercle is very simple. Anyone wishing to sell their used books, CDs, vinyl records, video games, DVDs or Blu-rays – with the exception of school textbooks – can visit the dedicated website  and either scan the item’s barcode or enter its ISBN to receive an instant valuation.

Once the cart has been created, customers can bring their items to any Mondadori Bookstore participating in the Zeercle service. By providing the code to the bookstore staff, who will check the condition of the items, they will receive a gift card of equivalent value, redeemable in all participating Mondadori bookstores (see the list of participating stores here).

Mondadori Store is Italy’s largest bookstore network, with over 500 locations ranging from major cities to smaller towns. It represents a cultural hub active across the country, online through its e-commerce platform Mondadoristore.it and via its book club format. Alongside books – always at the heart of its offering – Mondadori Store provides entertainment experiences, events and omnichannel services, reaching more than 20 million customers every year.

Zeercle is an innovative circular economy service dedicated to books. Through a simple digital platform, Zeercle allows readers to sell their used books directly in partner bookstores, receiving an immediate voucher to spend in store. The service, already active in Germany, France and Austria, aims to give books new value, support physical bookstores and promote more sustainable consumption. Zeercle works with major retail chains and independent bookstores to build a European network for second-hand books.

Following the success of the first edition of “Senti Chi Legge”, launched in January 2025, Mondadori Studios presents a new social recruiting project: “Senti Chi Legge Romance”.

The initiative aims to discover emerging vocal talents for the audiobooks published by the Mondadori Group’s imprints, with a focus on one of the audience’s most beloved genres: romance. The selected narrators will have the opportunity to lend their voices to a romance audiobook chosen from upcoming 2026 releases by Mondadori, Rizzoli, Sperling & Kupfer and Piemme.

With “Senti Chi Legge Romance”, Mondadori Studios seeks to give space to those who wish to test themselves and share their passion for reading and for love stories that make people dream. Narrators are a key element in every audiobook: their voice, and the emotional depth they bring to a story, can turn it into a personal and immersive experience, drawing the listener even deeper into the narrative.

The initiative is open exclusively to new talents with no previous experience in dubbing or audiobook narration.

Participants can submit their audio audition via the website sentichilegge.it. The first 500 valid submissions will be evaluated, and applications will remain open until 4 November 2025.

A panel of experts will then select twelve finalists, three for each of the four featured titles. Their auditions will be published anonymously on the Instagram account @mondadoristudios, accompanied by illustrated avatars, allowing the social community to cast their votes. The final result will be determined by both the public vote and that of a jury composed of publishing experts.

The four winners will be announced on 24 November 2025 through Mondadori Studios’ official social media channels.

For full details on how to participate, please visit sentichilegge.it.

On Thursday, 16 October, the new Mondadori Bookstore in Velletri (Rome) will open to the public. The city’s historic bookstore – now relocated to a landmark building in the city centre – will feature completely redesigned interiors and furnishings.

The new layout and atmosphere will enhance the store’s extensive selection of books, while the impressive glass wall in the event area, overlooking the striking Torre di Santa Maria in Trivio, will make the experience for visitors and customers even more engaging.

The new bookstore will be inaugurated in the presence of numerous guests and local authorities, including the Mayor of Velletri, Ascanio Cascella, Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Culture Chiara Ercoli, Councillor Cristian Simonetti, and Regional Councillor Giancarlo Righini.

With this initiative, Mondadori Store, Italy’s largest bookstore network, continues its path of renewal and growth, creating interactive spaces for the community dedicated to books and entertainment, in line with its strategy to promote reading and spread culture.

“The first Mondadori Bookstore in Velletri opened its doors back in 2004, quickly becoming a reference point for the community. Over twenty years of presence in the area have been marked by our love for books and culture, as shown by the many initiatives we’ve promoted, including the Velletris Librus Festival, now in its ninth edition”, said Guido and Aurora Ciarla, Mondadori Store franchisees. “Today, thanks to our new central location, we’ll be able to serve our customers with even greater dedication and care. The same approach and passion that have driven us to open other Mondadori bookstores across the region, in Lariano, Genzano, San Cesareo (inside the La Noce Shopping Center), Frascati in the province of Rome, and Cisterna in the province of Latina”.

Located at Corso della Repubblica 156, the new Mondadori Bookstore covers an area of 250 square metres and offers a catalogue of more than 18,000 titles –  from literary classics to bestsellers, fiction, crime, thrillers, fantasy, romance, and local publications, as well as a wide selection of essays and international works. Special attention is given to young readers through the We are Junior format, which features educational games and illustrated books designed to inspire curiosity and imagination. The Just Comics section is dedicated to the world of manga and graphic novels. The store also includes spaces for #BookTok readers and new generations of book lovers, as well as dedicated areas for stationery, toys, gadgets, and gift cards.

As further proof of the booksellers’ and Mondadori Store network’s commitment to promoting reading, the Mondadori Bookstores managed by Guido and Aurora Ciarla will once again take part in #IoLeggoPerché, which this year celebrates its tenth anniversary and already counts numerous schools and volunteers as partners.

Throughout the year, the bookstore will host events and projects involving local schools – such as the long-running “Alunni in Libreria” (Students in the Bookstore) initiative – as well as collaborations with educational institutions, libraries, and cultural associations.

In addition to these initiatives, the bookstore will also host meetings and book signings both in-store and in local schools.

Mondadori Bookstore in Velletri also serves its readers online. Customers can stay updated via the store’s  Instagram and Facebook pages, and can use the digital services of  Mondadoristore.it to check book availability, place orders, pick up purchases in-store, or have them delivered to their home. The store also provides a convenient phone ordering service.

The new Mondadori Bookstore is part of the ongoing renewal and expansion plan of Mondadori Store, Italy’s largest bookstore network, with more than 500 stores across the country – from major cities to smaller towns. It represents an active cultural presence nationwide, both online through Mondadoristore.it and the bookclub formula, offering not only books – always at the heart of the experience – but also entertainment, events, and multichannel services that reach over 20 million customers each year.

MONDADORI BOOKSTORE

Corso della Repubblica 156 – 00049 Velletri
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Tel: +39 0696155094
Whatsapp: +39 3332779015
E-mail: libreriamondadorivelletri@gmail.com
IG – FB

Young women are calling for a new narrative around STEM. One that is more inclusive, creative and inspiring. This is the key finding from the survey conducted by The Wom, the digital magazine that has become a benchmark for new generations, in collaboration with the Sylla Research Institute and under the scientific supervision of Professor Furio Camillo. The results were previewed in Milan during the STEM Women Congress 2025, the international event that promotes the participation and visibility of women in the fields of science and technology.

The research, entitled “Donne, STEM e Futuro (Women, STEM and the Future)”, is based on more than 500 questionnaires completed by Gen Z and Young Millennial women from The Wom community. The findings reveal a generation determined to change the rules of the game:

• One in three already studies or works in a STEM field;
• One in five has felt discouraged from choosing a scientific path;

Despite this, 84% consider STEM careers stimulating, and 50% also see them as creative, a strong signal that overturns the old stereotype of science as something cold, dull or “for nerds”.

Additional insights from the research

Awareness and knowledge:

• 58% know what the acronym “STEM” stands for (rising to 66% among teenagers, the most informed group);
• 51% still associate “STEM” with the male world, although the other half of respondents do not;
• 39% of under 18s see women in STEM as pioneers and role models for others (the overall average falls to 29%);

Persistent stereotypes:

• 79% have heard at least once that “girls aren’t good at maths”;
• 45% have heard that motherhood is an obstacle (“they have children, so they have other priorities”);

Perceived barriers:

• 55% identify work-life balance as the main challenge to pursuing a STEM career;
• 51% believe the gap stems from an education system that still favours boys;
• 50% feel there are few opportunities for growth and leadership;

A new vision: from “safe careers” to “careers that change the world”

For 51% of respondents, women who pursue a career in STEM are still largely seen as exceptions in a male-dominated world. However, there is a clear need to reshape the narrative around STEM disciplines – moving beyond numbers and financial security to highlight creativity, social impact and empowerment. This is reflected in the “headlines” that resonate most with young women:

• “Girls changing the world with technology” (34%);
• “Not just numbers, but the future” (32%);
• “Where creativity is also science” (29%);

Only 5% recognise the role of STEM subjects in helping to secure employment (“the key to having a stable job in the future”), a sign that perceptions around STEM careers are shifting.

Alongside iconic role models such as Samantha Cristoforetti and Fabiola Gianotti, scientific digital creators (24%) are also gaining influence — figures like Ilaria Lucrezia Rossi, a physicist and science communicator known for her @shescience profile, are seen as accessible role models who can inspire others through social media.

More women in STEM: how?

To build a more equitable future in STEM, women surveyed – 60% of whom said they would like more support and training – identified education and communication as the key areas for improvement:

• inclusive events starting from middle school
• fair and motivating school guidance
• eliminating stereotypes in media and language
• better work–life balance.

“The survey reveals a strong desire for change within The Wom community. The findings clearly show the need to evolve towards a STEAM perspective that integrates the arts and recognises creativity as a vital element in nurturing innovative thinking,” said Daniela Cerrato, CMO of Mondadori Media, during the presentation of the data. She added: “The young women we spoke to are calling for a shift in the collective imagination, which must also come through better representation in the media – so that science and technology finally become accessible and sustainable career choices. That’s the mission that drives The Wom every day.”

“With the Milan Congress, we wanted to go beyond simple discussion: we built a narrative shaped by data and diverse voices – scientists, artists, companies and, above all, young people – who showed us how STEM can and must be a source of inspiration and real opportunity for the next generations,” said Morena Rossi, Head of Content for SWC 2025, and Laura Basili, President of Stem Women Congress Italy.

The Wom at the forefront of the future of STEM

With this research, The Wom reaffirms its mission to give voice to young women by exploring the perceptions, motivations and barriers that bring them closer to – or distance them from – scientific and technological careers. The aim is to provide qualitative insights that enrich the institutional debate and contribute to a more inclusive and effective narrative around STEM careers, offering valuable guidance for brands as well.

As media partner of the second Italian edition of the STEM Women Congress – the international event promoting women’s participation and visibility in science and technology, which brought together scientists, artists, companies and young people for a day of talks, panels and performances – The Wom also took part in the panel “Intelligenza artificiale o ipnosi culturale? (Artificial Intelligence or Cultural Hypnosis?)”  The discussion, moderated by Valentina Lonati, Culture Editor of The Wom, offered a critical and multidisciplinary perspective on one of today’s most relevant topics: the impact of artificial intelligence on education and culture. The debate featured leading experts, communicators and academics.

In addition to The Wom’s “Women, STEM and the Future” survey, the event also presented the latest ISTAT data on STEM and the first Stem Women Annual Report Italy, with the goal of increasing the visibility of women in science and technology and promoting a new, inclusive vision for the future.

At the close of the morning session, The Wom presented the STEM Woman Award to Filomena Floriana Ferrara, CSR Country Manager at IBM Italy.

Award rationale: Filomena Floriana Ferrara stands out as a pioneer in the field of computing, both as a project leader and mentor. She combines digital innovation, technological expertise and social responsibility, and through her education initiatives for young women she has fostered empowerment in the STEM sector, offering a direct bridge between personal experience and inspiration for the future, in line with the values of The Wom.

The research can be downloaded at this link.

The Wom is the leading social magazine for Italian women, dedicated to the younger generation and focused on sharing real stories while promoting self-acceptance. It is a key reference point for young women on Instagram, with a combined following of over 10 million, and reaches more than 9 million unique users each month across web and social platforms (Comscore Social Incremental Reach, average last three months). In 2023, The Wom was awarded at the Diversity Media Awards for “Miglior articolo web (Best Web Article)” and in 2025 received, together with the Mondadori Group, the Special Advisory Board Award “Assolombarda per il sociale (Assolombarda for the social).”

The Sylla Research Institute specialises in the design and implementation of market research studies. Its scientific director is Professor Furio Camillo.

GialloZafferano, Italy’s leading food media brand and one of the most loved worldwide, is launching new editorial season packed with original content, emerging talent and creative formats that turn cooking into storytelling, entertainment and shared culture.

This year, GialloZafferano’s 2025/2026 line-up goes far beyond recipes. It’s a true digital and social schedule that reinterprets Italian food culture with a contemporary, accessible and engaging language. The project brings together a diverse team of creators, chefs and communication professionals, all united by a passion for food and storytelling.

The new season also broadens its themes and content. Cooking is seen as a collective experience, a tool for wellbeing, a source of emotion and a driving force of culture.

“GialloZafferano approaches food from ever-new perspectives: it’s no longer just about recipes, but about storytelling, emotion and connection,” says Andrea Santagata, CEO of the Digital and MarTech area at Mondadori Media. “We’ve built an ecosystem that creates innovative formats combining the pleasure of cooking with the storytelling power of chefs and creators. It’s a winning mix that allows us to produce content in any format and to generate culture, value and entertainment for audiences aged from 18 to 60.”

A CONSTANTLY EVOLVING MEDIA ECOSYSTEM

With more than 21 million users reached every month in Italy (Comscore data) and over 72 million followers worldwide, GialloZafferano confirms its position as the leading food media brand. This success is also driven by its partnership with Zenzero Talent Agency, Italy’s leading food talent agency, which celebrates its third anniversary this October. A true point of reference for chefs and food creators in Italy, Zenzero represents 28 talents in Italy and six in the US market. Over the past year, Zenzero has developed over 206 branded content projects and more than 80 live events that have helped to consolidate the relationship with the community, bringing the experience from the digital to the real. Together, GialloZafferano and Zenzero offer an integrated ecosystem of original content, live events and branded projects that authentically connect brands with audiences.

NEW FORMATS THAT TELL THE STORY OF FOOD LIKE NEVER BEFORE

• Discorsi in Osteria – with Cesare Battisti

The new original vodcast, created in collaboration with chef Cesare Battisti – founder of the Milanese restaurants Ratanà, Remulass and Silvano vini e cibi – brings critical thinking and the warmth of real conversation to the table. It’s a mix of popular authenticity and culinary reflection, where Cesare and his guests tackle themes such as grandmother’s cooking, the disappearance of traditional trattorias, dishes “that can only be made one way”, cream in pasta and Sunday lunch. All while actually cooking together. Discorsi in Osteria is the first cooking vodcast made in the kitchen, where the host truly becomes the oste (innkeeper) in every sense. The series will be available from late October on YouTube, Spotify and across all GialloZafferano and Cesare Battisti social channels.
With this GialloZafferano project, Cesare Battisti begins a collaboration with Zenzero Talent Agency, bringing his deep connection to the local area, professionalism and expertise in the restaurant industry to the agency’s team of creators.

• Ti mando un vocale (I’ll send you a voice message)

A format full of warmth and flavour, bringing people and memories together around a special dish, alongside some of GialloZafferano’s most popular faces. The community will be invited to send a voice message to the editorial team, describing their most treasured recipe: the one that recalls an emotion, an image or a loved one. The luckiest participants will be invited to the brand’s kitchen to cook their chosen dish together with GialloZafferano’s chefs.

• La ricetta che ti fa felice (The recipe that makes you happy)

A comforting dish that feeds both body and soul: GialloZafferano chefs explore everyday emotions — nostalgia, stress, performance anxiety — starting from a recipe, with the support of a psychologist who translates these feelings into practical tools for wellbeing.

WELL-BEING AT THE TABLE SPEAKS TO A NEW GENERATION

Among the new faces of GialloZafferano’s upcoming season is Ludovica “Lulù” Gargari — already a chef creator for the brand — who now becomes GialloZafferano’s official Ambassador. Lulù’s journey, from graduating at ALMA to becoming a social media creator, represents a contemporary way of living and sharing food: colourful, healthy, down-to-earth and close to everyday life.

Part of the Zenzero Talent Agency roster, Lulù will also host Un piatto bilanciato, where — alongside a nutritionist — she’ll teach viewers how to create balanced meals without giving up on taste. The project is part of the expansion of GialloZafferano Benessere, the brand’s new web and social media hub dedicated to nutrition insights and the evolving eating habits of Italians. The initiative also includes new social collaborations with doctor Edoardo Mocini and dietitian Paola Stavolone.

AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BRANDS AND INVESTORS

Today, GialloZafferano stands out not only as a point of reference for the public, but also for those seeking creative, integrated and high-impact communication projects in the world of food. Each new format is designed to enhance:

• native editorial content, ideal for branded storytelling;
• live events and activations that foster genuine connections;
• multi-platform projects that combine video, social media, audio and recipes.

A MEDIA BRAND EVOLVING INTO A FULL MEDIA COMPANY, WITH FOOD IN ITS DNA

The new editorial season is yet another demonstration of GialloZafferano’s ability to evolve the language of food and turn it into a tool for communication, culture and shared growth. A true food media powerhouse,  combines reach, relationships and meaningful content.

GialloZafferano is Italy’s leading food media brand: online, one in two Italians cooks with GialloZafferano, which reaches more than 21 million people every month (social incremental reach, Comscore, January–August 2025). With a community of over 72 million followers, it ranks among the top food media brands worldwide on social media (source: Shareablee–Comscore and social insights). Thanks to its accessible, easy-to-follow recipes and content, GialloZafferano is there for people at every moment of the day and across all channels, from web to social, from the app to smart devices, from the magazine and books to live events across Italy.

Zenzero is the talent agency that exclusively manages some of the top food creators on the Italian digital scene. Founded at the end of 2022 through a collaboration between GialloZafferano, One Shot Agency and six of Italy’s leading food creators, it now reaches over 43 million followers and more than 50 million video views. Zenzero Talent Agency represents a new point of connection between an extraordinary network of creators and brand partners, developing powerful communication strategies that meet brands’ growing need to engage with passions, values and new languages, including those of Generation Z.

Drawing on the experience of ALI Promozione and Libromania, LYR emerges as a new force in book promotion.

LYR’s goal is to bring out the strengths of the two Mondadori Group networks operating in editorial promotion, managing them under a single strategy designed to offer publishers a service that is even more effective, wide-reaching and forward-looking.

The name LYR, inspired by a stellar system, symbolically reflects the union of distinct entities and expresses the mission of the two networks that make up this new organisation: to work together, while remaining complementary, to create value across the entire book supply chain.

The strengths of LYR:

• A focus on independent content, strong relationships with publishers, deep knowledge of the local market and creativity – thanks to a young, dynamic team and a portfolio of established projects that have helped ALI Promozione (now renamed Alpha) stand out on the market to date.
• A team with over thirty years’ experience across multiple sales channels and Libromania’s proven expertise in online retail (now renamed Epsylon), a long-established organisation supporting both general and specialist publishers.

LYR project also brings a number of new initiatives, shaped by close dialogue with the book industry and its key players:

• A focus on different customer segments: ensuring the right book reaches the right bookseller, through a structured and motivated organisation designed to map and manage the offer effectively.
• Local development and engagement: supporting bookshops, libraries and schools in their book choices, fostering collaboration and shared success.
• Investment in tools and content: creating new resources and formats for publishers, agents and booksellers.

LYR will also develop new projects and strengthen a range of existing activities, including management consultancy services, sales tools, initiatives for schools and libraries, and tailored content for publishers and bookshops. Among the new developments are the upcoming Risguardi initiatives – the magazine created and produced by ALI Promozione for booksellers and bookshops – along with the associated nationwide festival, which will launch in October.