Inside Venice's Most Famous Bookstore (& How These Books Stay ... - TheTravel
Venice is often known for its interesting city layout full of canals, main squares, alleyways, and bridges that make for enchanting wanderings. This floating Italian city is also divided into six main districts, or using the Italian word, sestieri. One of these districts is Sestiere Castello, which is the location for Libreria Acqua Alta, a used bookstore known for its selection of titles and resident cats amid tightly-stacked shelves and sections.
It's definitely one of many amazing things to do in Venice.
What Is Libreria Acqua Alta Famous For?
While touting the self-proclamation of being "the world's most beautiful bookstore," Libreria Acqua Alta can definitely be called an unconventional one. According to an article on Veneto Secrets, the bookstore was founded in 2004 by owner Luigi Frizzo.
While not originally from this Venice, Frizzo appears to be seen as an honorary Venetian whose bookstore reflects the city it's located in through many ways.
How Do The Books Stay Dry At Libreria Acqua Alta?
Inside Libreria Acqua Alta, find many areas stacked with primarily vintage books with most are in Italian; English versions can be found too. According to a 2016 BBC Culture article on the world's most beautiful bookstores, the English translation for Libreria Acqua Alta is "high water bookshop."
This meaning could come across because of Venice's rising waters which are a constant flooding concern to this longtime city.
Apparently, Libreria Acqua Alta is located next to one of Venice's canals. As a result, the bookshop at times faces the threat of being flooded. At times, rising water can make its way into the shop.
In posting pictures on their social media accounts, flooding has happened usually in November as waters have also impacted other parts of Venice in the wintertime.
Flooding aside, it seems business as usual here. Even the bookshop's fire exit, according to posts on their Instagram account, is adjacent to a canal.
The period concern of being flooded by adjacent waters is so much that the bookstore's staff have taken movable measures to prevent their merchandise from getting water damage.
According to an Atlas Obscura article about Libreria Acqua Alta, rising waters can encroach on the bookstore. However, management has responded by stacking these books in places that seem sturdy, sensible, and amusing.
Reported solutions have involved elevated bookshelves, long-legged display tables, watertight bins, and even a gondola inside the shop. This boat is described in articles as being filled with books.
In the back of the store, there's a staircase constructed from many old and damaged encyclopedias that also provides views of the canal There's also an interior courtyard graced with, yes, books.
An article on Visit Venezia's website, the Libreria Acqua Alta is situated down a street from the city square of Campo Santa Maria Formosa. Along with keeping a watchful eye on the weather and his stock, apparently, Frizzo continues to maintain a cultural spot.
Cats Call Libreria Acqua Alta Home
Water aside, customers may come across paws on pages. Libreria Acqua Alta has stray cats at their shop, often showing their photos on both Instagram and Facebook accounts.
They might be seen amid or seated on top of stacks, perhaps taking a snooze. The Veneto Secrets article also explained that their residence had started when Frizzo did a favor for a friend by letting a cat come to the shop.
Supposedly, that favor ended up involving more than one cat ended up coming in—and that's how the whole cat colony began.
Along with books, often secondhand, antiquarian, or rare releases, and at times new, Libreria Acqua Alta's inventory can also extend to pictures, prints, magazines, and posters.
Recent sales items have included works by Hugo Pratt, books on Venice's canals, tarot card sets, and titles by various Italian authors. Those looking to learn more about Venice can perhaps find a history book or other Venetian-related materials.
Ready To Visit Libreria Acqua Alta?
Visitors should note that backpacks aren't allowed in the store, as perhaps the store's tight quarters could make it quite easy to knock over the merchandise.
Nonetheless, the experience of going through the massive selection here is, in Italian, molto bene.
- Address: Calle Longa S.M. Formosa 5176/b, Venice, Italy, 30122
- Hours: According to their Facebook page: Sunday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 7:30 pm.
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