Tons of books here and staff that answers all of your questions about finding the right book. It's…read morea bit cramped in here, but bearable. They have a restroom that has a code--you can use it if you buy something.

I know that I'm going to sound like an uncultured American saying this, but La Feltrinelli Express…read moreat the Santa Maria Novella train station is my favorite place in Florence to sit down, drink a cappuccino, and eat a pastry. Whenever we have to take the train somewhere we first head over to La Feltrinelli and my husband and I will each get a cappuccino and we all each order a sweet pastry. I'm sure some other place makes the pastries and delivers them daily, but wherever this place is, it makes some of our favorite donuts, croissants, and other treats. My daughter and I especially rave over the chocolate-filled donut--perfectly light and yeasty dough and very chocolately. If we still have a few minutes before our train leaves we'll browse the books and gifts. They have a great selection of books, some of which are in English. I took one star off because the workers can be very brusque and with what little Italian I know I've heard them bemoan and complain about the tourists to each other. I even caught one criticizing my Italian to another worker in front of me--I figured out she was mocking me and explained I'm trying to learn the language. But otherwise, I really like La Feltrinelli in the SMN train station. I think part of the appeal of La Feltrinelli is it's the closest thing to Barnes & Noble that we have in Florence. And to be able to relax and get something to eat and drink in a nice, clean, well-lit shop before a hectic day of traveling is very appreciated.