We’ve been to bookshops in
almost every place we’ve visited. Sooner or later you come across one
when strolling the city and a lot of times there actually is the need
for a bookshop anyway: Buying a city map, some postcards (hard to find
nowadays in many places) or a guidebook for your next destination. When
we came across
Libreria Acqua Alta in
Venice, it took us some time to decide whether or not we should buy something or if we should rather just have a look…
Libreria Acqua Alta bookshop is a mix between a flea market and a serious library.
It’s a definite must for book lovers (without dust allergies I might
add). It’s spread out through various rambling rooms; one room with a
gondola stacked with books, other rooms are packed with rowing boats
& bath tubs full of old second hand atlases, dictionaries, art
books, biographies and history books. There’s something for every one,
you just have to look long enough. In the back room you can look out to
one of the channels, which makes this place even more special.
The bookshop is called
Libreria Acqua Alta, which literally means “library of high water” … And if you know Venice, you also know that
Acqua Alta
happens every year and if this is the case, the bookshop is completely
flooded. But, all books are safe because the gondola simply floats. Not a
bad idea, huh?!
A visit to this bookshop when in Venice is almost
compulsory, because it’s clearly one of the most interesting ones
you’ll ever come across.
- Address: Calle Longa Santa Maria Formosa (Corte Senza Nome) | 5176/B – Castello, 30122 Venice, Italy – it’s close to Piazza San Giovanni e Paolo, but every local in the area knows the place and will show you the direction.
P.S. The owner also has some cats that frequently roam through the books and love to be patted.
Libreria Acqua Alta in Venice, Italy. Out the back is the "Fire Exit" to one of the channels.
Libreria Acqua Alta in Venice, Italy. The entrance to the bookshop already makes quite an impression.
Libreria Acqua Alta in Venice, Italy. A gondola full of books...
Libreria Acqua Alta in Venice, Italy. One could spend hours and hours looking through all the material of this bookshop.
Libreria
Acqua Alta in Venice, Italy. It might look messy, but there is a system
behind it. It's best to just look through the books because you'll come
across something interesting for sure.
Libreria Acqua Alta in Venice, Italy. Bath tub & boats filled with books can be found as well...
Libreria Acqua Alta in Venice, Italy. Cats roam the bookshop as well.