Libreria Acqua Alta, Antiquarian bookstore near Santa Maria Formosa, Venice, Italy.
Libreria Acqua Alta is an antiquarian bookstore in Venice that displays its collection in unconventional ways throughout connected rooms and passages. Books rest in gondolas, bathtubs, and waterproof containers, creating a distinctive layout that visitors navigate on foot.
The bookstore emerged from the need to protect books from Venice's frequent flooding. Gondolas and waterproof containers became practical storage solutions developed to shield collections from water damage during high tide events.
Local cats roam freely among the shelves and have become part of the place's character. Visitors often see them resting on books or walking through the narrow passages between stacks.
The shop is located in a traditional Venetian building and is reached entirely on foot through Venice's narrow canals and passages. Visitors should expect crowded aisles between book stacks and wear comfortable shoes for navigating the winding layout.
An internal staircase built entirely from old books leads up to a hidden reading terrace overlooking a narrow Venetian canal. This elevated spot offers a rare quiet vantage point where visitors can rest while taking in views of the water and surrounding rooftops.
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