Venice - A Visit to Libreria Acqua Alta
LIBRERIA ACQUA ALTA
Libreria Acqua Alta or “the most beautiful bookshop in the world” as it is nicknamed, is indeed a beautiful wondrous place. But it is also a quirky charming jungle of vintage and new books that sit mixed in and around some old boats, bathtubs, canoes, a gondola, interesting decorations and some friendly lazy cats. It is possibly more of a tourist attraction than a bookstore really but it is fantastic, and I think even if you came just to see it and experience it, you will find yourself with a handful of books to take home…I did :) And while you are buying the books (that you still haven’t thought about how to get home) take a look as some of the unique knick knacks and gifts by the cash register. Again, I did…lol. This place was a treasure trove for locally made magnets, postcards, bookmarks, art and lots of other lovely, AND necessary items!
WHAT TO SEE
Other than the endless piles and shelves of books and gifts to peruse, there are other sites or photo ops to see here. There is a real gondola filled with books and decorations in the main aisle along with lots of random but interesting decor and of course those sweet lazy cats. There is the Acqua Alta door and fire exit that leads out to another gondola (see top picture.) Many people sit in the chair and take pictures with this famous sign. There is the book staircase where you can climb up the old books to get a look over the wall (I was so curious to see what was over there!) This is another fun spot to take a photograph of course :) And lastly there is a little walled in colorful courtyard with old books lining each side, a table and other random goodies that have been collected over time. This place really is a photo lovers dream as there are so many unique details around every corner. Take your time and really check it all out!
TOURING THE LIBRERIA ACQUA ALTA
Don’t be afraid if there is a line to get in. The entrance is only one aisle and so it is single file. If it is a busy day and you see something at the beginning that you are interested in, I would go ahead and check it out while you are there because it may be hard to get back to. After the initial traffic jam at the entrance that we experienced, it was busy with people but much easeir to move around in, and it didn’t feel like you were waiting in line anymore. I would plan on making a loop starting from right to left and don’t plan on back tracking too much especially if you are with a group of people.
Heading through the main part of the building, you will take a right when you can. This will lead you to the chair and Libreria Acqua Alta door. Take your pictures and if you are interested in kids books or cook books, they are in this area. These were the only books I was searching out, so unfortunately I cannot help with any other categories :) The only other help I can give in this way is that the main aisle seems to have housed more of the new books. All the titles that we were looking at were used and vintage ones in the area around the door. After the visit to the door head back to the main area and go outside (you will see the open doors) and check out the book steps. They are covered with carpets to make everything a little more even and less slippery. Take a look over the wall, pose for a picture and then head back down as most likely others will be waiting to do the same. As you make your way back inside the small courtyard will now be to your right, along with another aisle of books and interesting, probably never seen before, things to look at. Take a few minutes in the courtyard to read some of the titles and enjoy the colors around you. When you are finally ready to leave, the aisle kind of becomes single file again as you wait to make your purchases. They only take cash so make sure to have some on hand a head of time. There is an ATM close just in case.
There is so much to see here! And if you love books and enjoy checking out all the fun details of a quirky place like this, then I could see how you could easily spend a couple hours here exploring. If you are just coming to stroll around and take some fun pictures than I would plan on 45 min or so. This was probably about the length of our trip and we did take the time to pick out some kids books and gifts. If I didn’t have my kids with me I definitely would have stayed longer and enjoyed checking it out more in depth.
A little note on visiting Libreria Acqua Alta - I saw in a review someone saying not to bother with this place if it is your first time in Venice because there is so many better things to see. I think that it totally depends on what type of traveler you are. If you love the little shops and hidden away places full of character, or you are traveling with kids (like us) and looking for different family friendly things to do, than you would probably love this place. If you just want to see all the main monuments, churches and museums than maybe this place isn’t for you. If you only have one day (Please, never give Venice just one day!) than maybe it’s not the right time. It is unique though, and it IS “the most beautiful bookshop in the world”, so I definitely think it’s worth a visit!
My little lady happily saying hi to one of the kitties at Libreria Acqua Alta
The bookstore is just a 10 walk from Piazza San Marco and is in the Castello neighborhood of Venice. If you do end up coming or going by way of Piazza San Marco, then I suggest you visit Dal Moro’s for lunch (see below). Libreria Acqua is tucked into a Campiello (small Campo - square) and is just a min or two from Campo Santa Maria Formosa, a lovely and lively and large piazza with restaurants, hotels, shops, and a church with accompanying bell tower. So, come for the bookstore, and then stay around for a while to explore this picturesque area of Venice.
DAL MORO’S Fresh pasta to-go
As mentioned above, if you are heading to or from Libreria Acqua Alta by way of Piazza San Marco then stop by Dal Moro’s for lunch. They make fresh pasta and sauces to-go and they are delicious! The portions, prices and staff are all great too! Dal Moro’s website. They have multiple locations. The address for Venice is Calle Casseleria, 5324, 30122 Venezia.