Libreria Acqua Alta is an independent bookshop tucked into a narrow street near Campo Santa Maria Formosa in Venice’s Castello district. Its name means “high water bookshop”, and its chaotic displays nod to the city’s seasonal flooding: books are piled into bathtubs, boats and even a full-sized gondola. Cats often roam among the shelves, adding to the shop’s lived-in character.
Venice has a long literary history, from its prominence as a Renaissance printing centre to the influential Aldine Press of the late 15th century. This eccentric shop offers a much less formal way into that bookish tradition. Browse new and secondhand titles in several languages, along with art books, old maps and postcards. At the back, a staircase made from discarded books leads to a view over a small canal, making it one of the shop’s most photographed corners.
The narrow rooms can get crowded, so try visiting soon after opening on a weekday if you want space to browse. The bookshop is within walking distance of Rialto and San Marco, though an offline map helps with Venice’s maze of alleys. During autumn and winter, check the tide forecast and consider waterproof shoes, as nearby streets can flood. Remember that this is a working bookshop as well as a photo stop: handle the stock carefully and consider buying a book or postcard.