Libreria Acqua Alta

"A treasure trove of new and used books, tucked away on a side street, perfect for book lovers."

"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.  The self-proclaimed “most beautiful bookstore in the world” is composed of a number of over-stuffed rooms stacked wall-to-wall with books, magazines, maps, and other ephemera. Due to Venice’s constant flooding, however, these picturesque piles are all placed inside bathtubs, waterproof bins, and in one room a full-size gondola. The name itself even means “Book Store of High Water.” When the local waterways rise to fill the store, the water can rise inches off the floor, which would destroy any other collection. The store’s whimsically cramped atmosphere is even reflected in their “fire escape,” which is simply a door leading directly out into a canal. To really complete the look, the store has become home to more than one stray cat, who are also able to escape the rising tides by hanging out atop the stacks." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

"Wonderful little bookstores are scattered all over Venice and Libraria Acqua Alta (Bookstore of High Water) is one of these hidden gems. Named and themed around the fact that Venice's floods are a peril to books, all of the store's stock is placed in floatable receptacles, including a full-sized gondola. The store owner himself has been known to float somewhere above reality; he's often seen in costume among his precious tomes."

"Libreria Acqua Alta, a charming vintage bookshop named after the flood tides that sometimes submerge parts of the city, keeps its titles protected from high water by piling them in bathtubs and decommissioned gondolas. It's a tourist attraction, sure, but it's also a genuinely funky local curiosity. Two sweet cats guard (and nap among) the treasure trove. Vintage art monographs are piled alongside local city guides and contemporary Italian titles. There are also postcards, magnets, and other knick-knacks." - Andrea Whittle