In Venice , on Calle Longa Santa Maria Formosa, a characteristic alley just steps from Piazza San Marco, there's a special, extraordinary place: the Acqua Alta bookshop . A magical place with a hint of antiquity. A place where time seems to have stood still, offering a fantastic journey through new and antique books , old prints, postcards, comics, poetry collections, photographs, and rare gems on the history of Venice. A marvel that the BBC has ranked among the 10 most beautiful bookshops in the world.
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A creative corner in the heart of Venice where, once you step inside, you're literally overwhelmed by books, scattered everywhere: on shelves and racks, but also inside gondolas , old canoes no longer compliant with racing regulations, disused boats , and retro bathtubs . This is also a way to protect the books, from the oldest to the most recent, from the high water that, at times, invades Venice, flooding it—hence the bookshop's name. Thanks to this curious stratagem, as well as being an excellent example of creative recycling , the bookshop remains open even during high tide: just don a pair of rubber boots and continue wandering the aisles in search of your favorite author.
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The Acqua Alta bookshop is the brainchild of its brilliant owner, Luigi Frizzo , originally from Vicenza but Venetian by adoption. In 2004, after traveling the world, he decided to settle in Venice to showcase it in a unique way, creating a true paradise for book lovers. Luigi, a precious guide. The bookshop doesn't have a digital catalogue, and he and his trusted staff are responsible for finding the books scattered throughout the wonderful disarray that characterizes it: they know exactly where each volume is located.
A unique place in the world and in perfect "do not waste" style: the old encyclopedias ruined by the high water, instead of being thrown away, were reused as wall coverings and to create, on the terrace, a spectacular staircase of books that, step by step, allows you to look out over the canal and admire the Corte Sconta, also known as Arcana, where Hugo Pratt set the adventures of Corto Maltese.
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And what about the emergency exit? A window onto the infinite beauty of the Venetian canals , complete with a chair and armchair where you can relax and read a good book while enjoying the marvelous view. The drawing of a little man swimming beneath the sign "Fire exit" is a curious one.
And then there are Ziggy , Coco , Dominique , Missipull and Tigre , five beautiful cats who wander undisturbed around the bookshop or doze on the books without shying away from the cuddles of tourists.
An incredible place and a must-see for anyone who wants to visit and experience Venice in a unique way, especially at a time when bookstores—places of culture, meeting, and sharing—continue to close, and a closing bookshop is a defeat for everyone.
Cover image photo credit: Tita.ti/Shutterstock.com
Read also:
- On the island of Alicudi, the memory of Franco Scaglia lives on in a large library between sky and sea.
- The 10 most beautiful bookstores in the world, from Venice to New York, unique and timeless places.
- In Colombia, a garbage collector with a passion for reading saved 20 books (photos and video)
- Pianissimo, the van that teaches children to love books
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