Opening in the heart of Rome’s San Giovanni district, SANTEDICOLA is a new kiosk and pop-up exhibition space — but it’s also a cultural outpost, a revitalized urban landmark, and a gathering place that restores meaning and importance to one of the most iconic archetypes of the Italian city. The project, created by Gaetano Orefice, is part of a broader local regeneration effort.
The goal is to reactivate the look and purpose of the traditional newsstand, transforming it into a neighborhood hub where editorial culture, design, and creative entrepreneurship converge.
At its core sits a symbolic structure: an octagonal volume whose geometry — often linked to rebirth — becomes both metaphor and the architecture of the project. Through a careful and inclusive restyling, with help from the Roman design studio Dispensabile and Cantiere Galli Design, the space breaks free from the typical newsstand counter to become a lively, accessible micro-gallery that is active year-round.
Custom-designed, it features new furniture and materials: lacquered wood shelving and a counter crafted by an artisan workshop, sustainable Forbo vinyl flooring, and a collection of design pieces including a table by Magnus Olesen, Chisel lounge chair, lighting by Hay and Artemide, stools and chairs by Audo Copenhagen and Ferm Living. Pop-up exhibitions, creative workshops, editorial presentations, and intimate events will bring the program to life, offering a concrete and accessible alternative to traditional commercial or institutional venues.
SANTEDICOLA curates a selection of independent publishers — from Corraini to Numero Cromatico, from Henry Beyle to Nero Editions — alongside international magazines such as Cabana, Monocle, Openhouse, and Tide. Complementing the printed matter is a range of carefully chosen iconic objects: reusable Kodak cameras, Palomar CityMaps dedicated to major world capitals, Galvanina organic drinks, canned cocktails by Roman brand CIN CIN, artisanal ceramics, and exclusive SANTEDICOLA merchandise.
The project stems from the personal and poetic vision of Gaetano Orefice — originally from Naples, now based in Rome — whose background in Fashion Design nurtures a multidisciplinary approach to creativity.
A childhood memory of buying the daily newspaper becomes today a collective urban ritual, a space for shared storytelling that connects with the neighborhood and its community:
“Reimagining a kiosk is no longer just about designing a point of sale for newspapers, but creating a place capable of transforming into a creative showcase, a cultural hub, and an innovative communication tool. For brands, it represents a unique opportunity: a physical presence in a central, high-traffic context, with temporary installations that allow stories to be told in new ways. For the community, it is a meeting point where each visit offers a unique experience, thanks to the flexibility of the concept. A dynamic, ever-evolving program of activities encourages dialog between citizens, businesses, and the cultural world. At the same time, the editorial soul remains alive, with a curated selection of daily newspapers, specialist magazines, and books — with a particular focus on design, architecture, photography, and fashion. A digital presence further amplifies content, increases partner visibility, and strengthens the overall narrative of the project. This way, SANTEDICOLA becomes an urban stage capable of attracting attention, sparking curiosity, and forging a genuine connection with the public.”
– explains founder Gaetano Orefice.
The brand positioning and visual identity of SANTEDICOLA were developed with brand designer Jonathon Dominic Spada, who drew inspiration from the iconography of votive shrines — small urban altars suspended between everyday life and symbolism — to capture the complexity and sacredness of the project.
At a time when newsstands seem destined to disappear, SANTEDICOLA offers a clear and timely response: proof that this archetype can reinvent itself without losing its essence. Its role goes far beyond selling printed matter: it lies in the cultural and social function it has always served — curating, sparking conversations, and building relationships with the neighborhood. This vision is reinforced by a collaboration with Rome’s VII Municipio and the volunteers of Retake, dedicated to revitalizing Piazza Imola.
On the occasion of the opening, the exhibition Lanterna Beach: I volti del Braccio (The Faces of the Braccio) by photographer Mariano Doronzo, curated by Luigi Crea, was presented. Launched in 2015, the project portrays the daily life of the “lanterniani” — a community that gathers year-round on the Braccio pier in Barletta to share sun and sea in a place that’s technically off-limits. Charged with intensity, Doronzo’s images document this collective ritual with an anthropological gaze, exploring the relationship between the male body, the sea, and concrete, while offering an authentic, non-stereotypical representation of Southern Italy. Celebrating the beauty of male bodies, the work opens up a unique vision of an isolated community now revealed to a wider audience.
SANTEDICOLA
Located in the San Giovanni district of Rome, in Piazza Imola, SANTEDICOLA is a new newsstand inaugurated in October 2025, born from the restoration and transformation of a historic octagonal structure, with the aim of restoring centrality and purpose to one of the urban archetypes of the Italian city.
Conceived by Gaetano Orefice — born in 1995, originally from Naples and now based in Rome, trained in Fashion Design at IUAD Academy in Naples and known for his multidisciplinary creative approach — SANTEDICOLA presents itself as a cultural outpost and a regenerated urban space, active throughout the year.
Inside, visitors will find a curated selection of independent publishing, iconic and collectible objects, along with a calendar of micro-events spanning culture, design, and creative entrepreneurship.
Facts & Credits
SANTEDICOLA Piazza Imola snc, 00182, Rome, Italy
OPENING HOURS Mon-Sat, 9.30-13.30 / 15.30-19.00
FURNITURE CONSULTANCY Dispensabile
MATERIALS CONSULTANCY Cantiere Galli Design
AREA 25sqm
PHOTOGRAPHERS Simone Amici , Edi Solari , Mariano Doronzo
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