Libreria Acqua Alta

Libreria Acqua Alta is an independent bookshop at Calle Lunga Santa Maria Formosa in the Castello district of Venice, Italy. It is known for its unusual way of protecting books from the flooding known as acqua alta, or high water. New and second-hand books, maps and prints are stored in bathtubs, gondolas, canoes and waterproof bins, and stacked in tall piles throughout the small rooms. The shop is crowded, cramped and full of character, and has several resident cats. At the back, a courtyard opens onto a small canal, and a staircase built of old books, sometimes called the stairway of books, gives a view over the water. Titles are in several languages, including Italian and English, and the range includes guidebooks, art books, postcards, vintage posters and Venice-related literature. Browsing is free, and most visitors spend 30 to 45 minutes, though the size means it fills quickly. The shop is generally open daily from about 9AM to 7PM. Crowds are heaviest in the middle of the day and in the afternoon, and the quietest time is early morning, soon after opening. Photography is a big draw, but the aisles are narrow, so visitors should be considerate of other browsers and shop staff. The book stairway may have limits on how many people can climb at once, and visitors should follow staff instructions and not disturb the book displays. The shop sits close to Campo Santa Maria Formosa and is a short walk from San Marco, and the nearest vaporetto stop is Rialto or San Zaccaria. It is a good place to buy a distinctive book or postcard as a souvenir.