# In Rome, the café where Gogol wrote "Dead Souls" has closed

Rome has closed the famous literary café Antico Caffè Greco, which was considered the oldest operating café in the city, reports Corriere della Sera.

The building that housed the café belongs to Rome's "Israel" hospital. The hospital management has already announced plans to open a new establishment in this location, but its concept has not yet been determined.

The story of the café's closure began with a seven-year legal dispute between its owners and the building's proprietors, which started in 2017 when the lease on the premises expired. The café's management attempted to extend the lease but faced refusal, which led to legal proceedings that lasted 8 years.

According to Corriere della Sera, the café was located in the very center of Rome, in a prestigious district, next to stores such as Gucci, Bulgari, Cartier, Prada, and Max Mara.

The official website of Antico Caffè Greco states that it opened in 1760 and has not changed its location since then. The café's interior featured dozens of paintings and sculptures, which have now been moved to storage.

Antico Caffè Greco became a meeting place for many famous people. English poet George Gordon Byron, philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, and writer Mark Twain visited here. Russian writers also frequently visited the café. Nikolai Gogol wrote "Dead Souls" here, and among the regular guests were Fyodor Tyutchev and Ivan Turgenev.