Hoepli Milano: 150 Years of Publishing and Editorial History

The origins of the Hoepli publishing house

The story of Hoepli began in 1870, when Swiss publisher Ulrico Hoepli arrived in Milan and acquired the historic Laengner bookstore located in the Galleria de Cristoforis. That space became the first operational headquarters of the new publishing venture.

The first book was published the following year, in 1871: a manual dedicated to the first elements of the French language. This initial publication anticipated the editorial direction that would characterize Hoepli’s production for decades. The publishing house specialized in technical manuals, educational and university textbooks, professional publications, dictionaries, and language-learning materials.

Over time the catalog expanded to include areas such as computer science, legal texts, and materials for teaching Italian to foreigners. Thanks to this specialization, Hoepli became a constant presence in the libraries of students, professionals, and academic institutions across Italy.

The historic relationship between Hoepli and the city of Milan

Alongside its publishing activities, Hoepli developed a particularly strong relationship with Milan. As early as 1881, the Hoepli Antiquarian Bookshop opened its doors, later moving to Via Berchet. During World War II the building was heavily damaged by bombing, but in 1945 the bookstore reopened in Corso Matteotti, once again becoming an important cultural landmark for the city.

A major milestone came in 1958 with the inauguration of the Hoepli International Bookstore at 5 Via Hoepli. The new building, designed by architects Luigi Figini and Gino Pollini, became the headquarters of the publishing house. Even today the bookstore remains one of the largest in Europe, offering more than one hundred thousand Italian and international titles.

The founder also contributed significantly to Milan’s cultural life through philanthropic initiatives. In 1921, to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the publishing house, Ulrico Hoepli donated a public library to the city, located in the former customs building at Porta Nuova. A few years later, in 1930, he also donated the Hoepli Planetarium, which remains one of Milan’s most important centers for astronomical education and public outreach.

When Ulrico Hoepli died in 1935, leadership of the company passed to his nephew Carlo Hoepli, who continued developing the publishing business and strengthening its position within the Italian cultural landscape. In 1997 the city of Milan officially recognized the importance of this long history by awarding the Hoepli family the Ambrogino d’Oro, one of the city’s most prestigious civic honors.

Economic difficulties and tensions among shareholders

In recent years, however, the situation of the publishing house has become increasingly complicated. Ownership of the company is now divided between the sixth generation of the Hoepli family, which holds the majority of shares, and the Nava brothers – sons of Bianca Hoepli – who own about 25 percent.

Tensions have grown among the shareholders over the management of the company, in a broader context already marked by the crisis affecting the publishing industry. The latest financial statements report losses of around one million euros, while revenues have decreased by 8.5 percent. Despite a net worth exceeding 11 million euros, the company has entered a period of considerable instability.

At the beginning of 2026 the 89 employees of the publishing house received notice of possible temporary layoffs through a wage support scheme, initially planned for thirteen weeks. Meanwhile, according to reports from Corriere della Sera, negotiations have reportedly been underway with an international investment fund interested in acquiring some of the company’s assets, particularly its school publishing catalog, which holds about 5 percent of the Italian market.

The final decision: voluntary liquidation

On March 10, the shareholders’ meeting, following a proposal from the board of directors, ultimately approved the voluntary liquidation of the company. The decision was justified by the difficult financial situation of the business, the negative outlook for the publishing and book market, and the ongoing internal conflicts among shareholders.

According to the statement issued by the assembly, liquidation represents the most appropriate legal solution to preserve the company’s assets and ensure, as far as possible, their orderly management.

The procedure will be overseen by lawyer Laura Limido, who has been appointed to manage the liquidation process and to ensure that the rights of creditors, employees, and all stakeholders are respected.

Reactions and protests

Not everyone, however, agrees with this decision. Giovanni Nava, a shareholder of the company, has announced his opposition to the liquidation and stated that he intends to use every legal means available to defend the continuity of both the publishing house and the bookstore.

Trade unions have also expressed strong concern about the future of the workers and the possible loss of a historic cultural symbol of Milan. The CGIL union has announced a flash mob in front of the historic Hoepli bookstore to call for the involvement of the city and its institutions.

The slogan chosen for the protest summarizes the widespread sentiment among employees and citizens alike: “The history of Milan cannot be liquidated.”