Europe’s first bookstore dedicated exclusively to Palestinian culture and history has opened in Barcelona’s historic Gràcia district, marking the launch of a cultural initiative designed to promote Palestinian literature, history, and identity.
Its collection ranges from fiction, poetry and theatre to history, art, and even cookbooks covering the conflict. Central to the project is also the promotion of Palestinian voices.
Named Finistres Palestine, the bookstore was established by the Finistres Foundation to foster a deeper understanding of Palestine through books, educational activities, and cultural events. Organizers describe the project as more than a traditional bookstore, saying it aims to serve as a space for dialogue and learning about the Palestinian experience.
Palestinian writer Mohammed Bittari, one of the project’s supervisors, said the bookstore houses thousands of titles translated into several languages. The collection includes novels, poetry, theatre, history, visual arts, and academic works, offering what organizers describe as one of Europe’s most comprehensive collections dedicated to Palestinian culture.
Bittari said the idea for the bookstore emerged after Palestinian books in a Spanish library were deliberately vandalised by having coffee poured over them. The incident prompted the foundation to create an independent space devoted entirely to Palestinian literature and intellectual production.
The location of the bookshop has played an important role in its warm reception. Since October 2023, Barcelona — and Spain more broadly — has become one of Europe’s centres of solidarity with Palestine. The city has hosted some of the continent’s largest demonstrations, while several Gaza Freedom Flotilla initiatives have departed from Spanish ports.
At the political level, Spain has been among the most vocal European countries in criticizing Israel’s actions in Gaza and was one of the first EU member states to formally recognize the State of Palestine in 2024.
According to the organisers, the project is intended to protect and amplify Palestinian voices while providing readers with direct access to works produced by Palestinian authors both before and after the occupation.
The bookstore has drawn interest from academics, writers, local residents, and visitors to Barcelona. Organisers said publishing houses responded quickly to the initiative, helping expand the collection with newly released books related to Palestine.
In addition to selling books, the venue functions as a cultural and information centre, offering reading recommendations, historical context, and discussions to help visitors better understand the Palestinian cause through literature and documented historical accounts.
Even the architecture of the space carries political symbolism. Designed by Palestinian architect Malek Murad Mateu, the bookstore incorporates references to the colors of the Palestinian flag, the keffiyeh, and Mediterranean motifs. On its shutter, a graffiti of a woman holding a key represents the Palestinian right of return.
Finestres Palestina is ultimately an attempt to create a permanent space for stories, perspectives and debates that are often marginalized in the mainstream public discourse. Amid growing polarization, the bookstore is a reminder that literature can offer a different path to understanding.
The foundation plans to host lectures, educational programs, book launches, and literary events featuring Palestinian writers, artists, and intellectuals. Organizers say they hope the bookstore will strengthen cultural dialogue and deepen awareness of Palestinian history and heritage across Europe.
“The bookstore is not just shelves of books,” Bittari said. “It is a place where people can ask questions, exchange ideas, and learn about Palestine through its literature, history, and culture.”
