The Antico Caffe Greco in Rome, a historic literary establishment where Nikolai Gogol penned parts of his renowned work “Dead Souls,” has shut its doors following a protracted legal dispute. The Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reported the closure, which concluded after seven years of conflict between the cafe’s management and the building’s owners.
The venue, operational since 1760 in a prestigious Roman district, faced tensions when its lease expired in 2017. Management sought to extend the contract, but the property owner refused, sparking a nearly eight-year legal battle. The building, owned by Rome’s Israel Hospital, has announced plans for a new facility on the site, though specifics about its design or purpose remain undisclosed.
The closure marks the end of an era for a space deeply tied to literary history, with Gogol’s association cementing its cultural significance. No further details about the future of the location have been revealed.
