Acqua alta is the term used in veneto for the exceptional tide peaks that occur periodically in the northern adriatic sea. The bookshop was founded in 2004 by luigi frizzo, who was born in vicenza, but became venetian by adoption. Enjoy seeing books packed into canoes and gondolas, the. The most beautiful bookshop in the world is in venice italy.
Libreria acqua alta is a unique secondhand bookshop with an eccentric owner. A cqua alta, or high water, can make venice feel like atlantis. One morning my daughter and i were staying in venice, we decided to take a walk to this bookshopyou could even. Visiting the acqua alta bookshop is definitely an experience staff are so helpful and will find the most obscure books for you but the quirky gondolas, books in baskets, seat by the canal door a photo opportunity. Libreria acqua alta bookstore in venice justin plus lauren. Venices legendary waterproof bookshop overwhelmed by floods. Apr 20, 2017 libreria acqua alta means high water bookshop. The liberia acqua alta bookshop is in the middle of venice, there is no water bus station nearby. People are wading along the streets in a foot or two of water and the buildings are boarded up. Keeping a large collection of books in a canal city prone to flooding was always a dangerous idea, which is why venice s libreria acqua alta high water bookshop had decided to store its books. The libreria acqua alta translated as the high water bookshop, like many other places in venice, is. Of course, it also meant a visit to the citys most famous bookstore, libreria acqua alta. Anya016 1 month ago perched on a lagoon in the adriatic sea, the beautiful city of venice evokes countless quaint aquatic images, from gondolas and vaporetti lumbering down the canals to tiny bridges arching between its sidewalks.
Acqua alta is beloved by book lovers and photographers alike for its onlyin venice charm. The shop is not easy to find, it is in the middle of venice in a small culdesac about 500 meters northeast of st. I always love a good bookstore, not only for the purpose of buying books but. High water bookstore has handled venice s flooding during the high water season by placing its many tomes in gondolas, bathtubs, and boats. Ive always loved bookshops, but ive never fallen in love with one quite like with acqua alta. Jan 02, 2014 book your tickets online for libreria acqua alta, venice. Acqua alta in venice has recently been quite a frequent topic in the media. The acqua alta bookshop or libreria acqua alta is one of those instagrammable places we see all over social media. Here is some useful information from venice municipality site. The acqua alta bookshop, considered by many as the most beautiful bookstore in the world, is slowly returning to normality, five weeks after it was devastated by floods caused by venice s highest tide in more than half a century. Acqua alta bookshop venice destination highlight follow. He manages to represent venice in a very unique and authentic way, thanks to his creativity and genius. This is without doubt the most photographed bookshop in venice. Nov 14, 2019 years of constant flooding inspired libreria acqua alta, or high water bookshop, to store its vast collection in bathtubs, waterproof bins and, notably, a fullsize gondola.
Exploring the illustrious bookshops in venice, italy. Venices legendary waterproof bookshop overwhelmed by. Libreria acqua alta an original bookstore in venice italy. The first sight that greets visitors is a gondola, filled to the brim with books. But at libreria acqua alta in venice, italy, the best seat in the house is reached via book staircase. Im sure you have already come across these pictures. Italy vacation italy travel italy trip venice travel siena toscana long weekend empire romain visit italy venice italy. Feb 01, 2018 libreria acqua alta bookshop in venice stacks his books in boats to protect them from getting ruined during high tide. Just think about books in a gondola, an outside staircase made of books or an open door with a fire exit sign pointing to a canal. One of the most original libraries in the world is located in venice, italy. Libreria acqua alta, venices high water bookshop byrnewithme.
Acqua alta is one of the most unique bookstores in the world. Were both avid readers and were excited to see a bookshop amidst the beauty of venice. In this bookshop you can find books about the history of venice or written in venetian dialect. Keeping a collection of books in a city where the roads are made of water is a dangerous idea to begin with, but venices libreria acqua alta has nothing to fear since they just keep all their. Libreria acqua alta bookshop in venice is a mix between a flea market and a serious library. The name translates to bookstore of high water due to the store being plagued by venices rising waters, which regularly flood the floors of the shop each winter. But the libreria acqua alta is still open for business. Roughly translating to the bookshop of high water, acqua alta refers to the flooding that venice experiences each year. Famed venetian bookshop requested donations of used books not cash and was overwhelmed by donors and volunteers. Libreria acqua alta has a reputation which precedes it, since its featured in every guidebook, website, blog and article about venice.
Libreria acqua alta venezia autentica discover and support the. At the beginning of september, i visited venice for the first time and i. But one of the unconventional landmarks that should be on your list to visit is a used bookstore libreria acqua alta. The acqua alta bookshop, considered by many as the most beautiful bookstore in the world, is slowly returning to normality, five weeks after it was devastated by floods caused by venice s highest tide in more than half a century the owners have credited its return to the. Miranda atty went to venice to visit luigi frizzo, who. Wandering around castello, we came across the libreria acqua alta, a bookshop whose welcome sign says that it is the most beautiful bookshop in the world.
Libreria acqua alta, in calle lunga santa maria formosa, is definitely the only place on earth where you will find a huge selection of new and used books set out in undoubtedly special shelving. In venice each year, the acqua alta occurs meaning that the water levels rise and in some cases, flood the streets. Aug 27, 2016 located in calle lunga santa maria formosa, in the district of castello, the libreria acqua alta will stun you for its incredibly creative book shelves. But more than that i wanted to see it for what its also known for its named for one of the most interesting bookshops in the world. Jul 17, 2019 what does libreria acqua alta mean in english.
Furthermore, books are even turned into furniture and architecture themselves. A truly unique place in venice and one that i recommend anyone to seek out during a stay in the city is the whimsical libreria dell acqua alta the high water bookshop. Libreria acqua alta di frizzo luigi, venice, italy. Libreria acqua alta in venice a stop at libreria acqua alta in venice is a must for book lovers one of the most original libraries in the world is located in venice. Inside libreria acqua alta, venices unique bookstore. The bookstore could potentially be flooded and thats really awful for anything made out of paper.
Located in calle lunga santa maria formosa, in the district of castello, the libreria acqua alta will stun you for its incredibly creative book shelves. Libreria acqua alta bookshop in venice the most beautiful. Every trip i take, whether brief or long, always includes a stop in a bookstore in an attempt to expand the travel section of my home library. Acqua alta bookshop loses thousands of books in venice floods. Acqua alta means high water in italian, and in venice, it is the name not only of this bookstore but of the flooding that venice experiences each year. A mustvisit for book lovers my husband and i visited libreria acqua alta while visiting venice for the first time. Libreria acqua alta, a unique book store in venice.
Owners of the acqua alta bookshop, considered by many as the most beautiful bookstore in the world, say they have lost hundreds of books to this weeks. Libreria acqua alta, literally bookshop of high water. This amazing bookstore is located in the sestiere castello, in a narrow alleyway just steps from campo santa maria formosa, where youre likely to encounter more venetians than tourists. But more than that i wanted to see it for what its also known for its named for one of the most interesting bookshops in the. Acqua alta bookshop loses hundreds of books to floods. From the south you walk about 500 meters from the pier san marco s. The most interesting bookshop in the world libreria acqua alta. Keeping a collection of books in a city where the roads are made of water is a dangerous idea to begin with, but venice s libreria acqua alta has nothing to fear since they just keep all their titles in waterproof basins. In fact, if it wasnt for a few books and postcards outside the front door, you would thing that you were in the wrong road. The name translates to bookstore of high water due to the store being plagued by venice s rising waters, which regularly flood the floors of the shop each winter. Opening a bookshop in a city where the roads are made of water sounds like a crazy idea. The most beautiful bookshop in the world is in venice.
Books are piled on boats, bathtubs, and whatever can float. Inside libreria acqua alta, venices unique bookstore our. It doesnt look like much when you turn into the street where the bookstore is. Jan 21, 2019 the libreria acqua alta in venice, italy is one of the most beautiful and interesting bookshops in the world, designed to literally float during the times the city of venice floods. On foot to the bookstore libreria acqua alta venice. Nov 14, 2019 keeping a large collection of books in a canal city prone to flooding was always a dangerous idea, which is why venices libreria acqua alta high water bookshop had decided to store its books inside bathtubs, waterproof bins, and even a fullsized gondola. If you are a books lover then in venice there is a place taylored for you, the libreria acqua alta. See, the bookshop opens right onto the canals you could fall into the water from the window. Its a higgledy piggledy shop, with books stashed in baths and a giant gondola. Years of constant flooding inspired libreria acqua alta, or high water bookshop, to store its vast collection in bathtubs, waterproof bins and, notably, a fullsize gondola.
Shopping in venice is wonderful but you can get lost in a maze of souvenir shops. The city is slowing sinking and may someday be completely submerged. Libreria acqua alta travel photography blog by nisa. Inside libreria acqua alta, venices unique bookstore our escape. Venices famous bookshop named after winter flooding, acqua alta, was severely hit by recent floods, as footage filmed on tuesday in the city. There are new and wellcurated shops, historic booksellers in operation since last century and secondhand stores stuffed with old, dusty books. The bookstore libreria acqua alta translated bookstore high water is a. The bookshop is located off campo santa maria formosa, in venice city center and is a dream not just for book lovers, as the name suggests, but for anyone interested in. Acqua alta in venice instructions for use luxrest venice. Travel comfortably without queues, buy tickets online beforehand. Libreria acqua alta is famous for, essentially, two things. Libreria acqua alta venices coolest bookshop lovin. Libreria acqua alta in venice italy a floating bookshop. Libreria acqua alta bookstore in venice unique bookstore.
Acqua alta is a one ofakind book shop that is regularly mentioned as one of the. In italys floating city, this can only mean one thing when a combination of high tide and a wind from the adriatic forces extra water into the lagoon, this bookshop gets flooded along with many streets. Libreria acqua alta bookshop in venice stacks his books in boats to protect them from getting ruined during high tide books are piled on boats, bathtubs, and whatever can float. Calle longa santa maria formosa castello 5176, 30122 venice, italy. Visit the most unusual bookshop in venice, where you can find a gondola in the center of the shop, cats, that walking around and any book. Libreria acqua alta in the district of castello in venice, italy. Book your tickets online for libreria acqua alta, venice.
The peaks reach their maximum in the venetian lagoon, where they cause partial flooding of venice and chioggia. A stop at libreria acqua alta in venice is a must for book lovers one of the most original libraries in the world is located in venice. The nearrecord high tide that has devastated venice has proved too much even for a bookshop famed for its everready approach to flooding. The libreria acqua alta translated as the high water bookshop, like many other places in venice, is prone to flooding. Libreria acqua alta venezia autentica discover and. Acqua alta is a oneofakind book shop that is regularly mentioned as one of the. Acqua alta bookshop is the most famous bookshop in venice.
The libreria acqua alta in venice, italy is one of the most beautiful and interesting bookshops in the world, designed to literally float during the times the city of venice floods. This weeks deluge proved too much even for one famous venice bookstore which had resigned itself to constant flooding, keeping its books inside bathtubs. This venice bookshop has an ingenious way of keeping books. At its worst, in 1966, acqua alta flooded the city with more than a meter of salty lagoon water. Venice, libreria acqua alta venezia, librerie, italia. Translated into english, libreria acqua alta means, library of high water. Its a definite must for book lovers who visit venice photojournalist steve mccurry is best known for shooting one of the most famous photographs ever taken afghan girl, an image of a young girl with sea green eyes staring defiantly into t. Libreria acqua alta is venices most unique bookstorestop by here for wonderful reads, an extremely photogenic interior, and plenty of cats. Libreria acqua alta literally translates to high water bookshop.
Marks basilica to the worldclass art collections at the peggy guggenheim museum and laccademia, there are plenty of traditional mustsees to fill your days in venice. Stacks of damaged books are used for decoration, particularly at the back of the shop, where they form a. Acqua alta bookshop libreria acqua alta, venice traveller. It is only a little shorter from the north coast of the island venice. 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. The name itself even means book store of high water. But, all books are safe because the gondola simply floats. The peaks reach their maximum in the venetian lagoon, where they cause partial flooding of venice. One morning my daughter and i were staying in venice, we decided to take a walk to this bookshop you could even. During acqua alta high tide this part of the shop often floods and thats where the name of the shop originates. When youre in venice, make a stop at the worlds most quirky bookstore, libreria acqua alta.
How this venice bookshop protects its books from flooding. The acqua alta, as the seasonal flooding is known, is a natural phenomenon, which has always been a feature of venetian life. When the local waterways rise to fill the store, the water can rise inches off the floor, which would destroy any other collection. This venice bookstore has resigned itself to constant flooding by keeping its books in bathtubs and boats. It is one of the most original library in the world where all the. Acqua alta bookstore hinnosaarflickr the independent bookstores of venice are a reflection of the citys diversity and long literary history. The shop has not only a wide variety of books on venice. We visit this amazing bookshop on every visit to the city, and always buy a couple of books once found and then inside, it is so fascinating. The phenomenon is often mistaken for proof that venice is sinking.