Some people prescribe ibuprofen, while others prescribe a good novel. Santiago Arnés and Carlos Vaqué have decided that, from now on, they will devote themselves to the latter. These two health professionals, a surgeon and a doctor respectively, hung up their white coats to open La Llibreria de Campanar last December.
This new space aims to become the cultural heart of this Valencian neighborhood and will celebrate its official opening this Friday, January 30, 2026.
Photo: La Llibrería de Campanar
The project was born out of a courageous life decision: exhaustion in the face of the precariousness of the healthcare system and the growing pressure on healthcare services pushed Arnés and Vaqué to look for a way out. They found the answer in their shared passion for reading.
Photo: La Llibrería de Campanar
So, they decided to swap the frenetic pace of the hospital for the calm of a neighborhood bookstore.
Discernment and diversity, the hallmarks of identity
Photo: La Llibrería de Campanar
Although they discreetly raised the shutters on December 26 to take advantage of the Christmas season, it is only now that the project will be officially presented to the public.
Located on the corner of Benavites and Aparicio Albiñana streets, the bookstore does not aim to compete with the giants of online commerce, but rather to offer what they do not have: discernment and proximity.
Its catalog will be tailored to the demands of the neighborhood, but its founders have already established two clear lines of specialization that define its character. On the one hand, there is a firm commitment to philosophy, but approached from an analytical and systematic perspective, expressly distancing itself from commercial self-help.
On the other hand, there is a special focus on LGTBIQ+ literature, creating a space for diversity and visibility on its shelves.
This Friday’s opening marks the start of a cultural agenda that promises to revitalize the area. Activities such as storytelling, book clubs, and book presentations are already planned for the coming months and will be published on their social media accounts.