The city of Venice is filled with many hidden gems and beauties that are oftentimes hard to spot but incredibly satisfying to find. A place that we believe fits perfectly in this category is Libreria Acqua Alta. This magical place is a library that keeps all of its books in waterproof basins to avoid damage that could come with flooding.
Let’s find out something more about Libreria Acqua Alta in Venice and why you should visit it during your Venice Tours.
Location of Libreria Acqua Alta in Venice
Libreria Acqua Alta is located near Santa Maria Formosa Church, a little further away from busy crowds of tourists and the city center. It’s considered to be one of the most beautiful bookstores in the whole world because of the way it was built. In fact, because of the high levels of water in Venice, where the high tide can go over 110 cm, the owner of this bookstore, a lovely man named Luigi, chose to put it together with elements that can float, such as a Gondola (the infamous Venetian boat), a boat and even a bathtub! He did this to try and protect the books held in this library as much as possible and prevent damage that could come from the water. In this library, you can find pretty much any genre and any book. All of them are stacked on top of objects that can either float or that are high enough that the water won’t reach them.
The captivating back area of Libreria Acqua Alta
One of the most interesting aspects of Libreria Acqua Alta is the back of the store. Here you will be able to find endless books stacked together that create what seems to be a staircase! The books used for this are obviously not for sale since they are either old or damaged. If you want to, you can climb these steps to get a view of the adjacent canal and watch gondolas.
Opening hours
Libreria Acqua Alta is open every day from circa 09:15 AM to 07:45 PM and it’s located in Calle Lunga Santa Maria Formosa. If you’re planning on visiting, make sure you not only stop by to take photos but also to buy something and support this local business.
Conclusion
If you enjoy finding hidden treasures in the cities you visit, going to Libreria Acqua Alta when you visit the city of Venice is perfect for you. This suggestive location, along with the beautiful atmosphere created by its owner, will definitely make your day! If you want to get to know more about the city of Venice, check out our other blogs!
