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Libreria Acqua Alta

Venice's Quirky Bookshop

Charming bookshop complete with resident cats and its own gondola.

Free Admission With Kids

Sestiere Castello

Rialto (10-min walk)

www.libreriacqualta.it

Visit official website

+39 041 296 0841

Additional resources

What makes it special

Acqua alta (high tide)

To tackle high tides, books are placed on gondolas, canoes and bathtubs instead of shelves, creating a unique and poetic setting.

The actual books

The bookstore is stocked with new and used books, rare volumes, ancient and modern editions and an eclectic selection about Venice.

Test a gondola

Board the gondola docked at one of the library's canal exits for an excellent photo opportunity.

Libreria Acqua Alta : Certainly! And you can even have a photo taken while you're at it!

Discover more about Libreria Acqua Alta through 7 photos with explanations.

Open gallery

What to expect here

Step into a one-of-a-kind book lover's paradise.
Browse books while the resident cats judge your taste.
Climb the famous staircase of books.

Best time to visit

Early

The library used to be off the beaten track, but not anymore.

To avoid the crowds, try to go early.

They open at 9am.

What to see nearby

These top spots are just a short walk from Libreria Acqua Alta:

Palazzo Grimani : The Tribuna is also known as the 'Chamber of Antiquities' because it once housed over 130 ancient sculptures

super close

Palazzo Grimani

Campo Santa Maria Formosa : Southward view of the campo, framed by inviting cafés and the Baroque facade of Santa Maria Formosa

tops 5 mins

Campo Santa Maria Formosa

San Zanipolo : The majestic main altar immediately draws your gaze upwards

tops 5 mins

San Zanipolo

Scuola Grande San Marco : The exquisite facade makes it arguably the most beautiful of all the Scuole Grandi

tops 5 mins

Scuola Grande San Marco

Santa Maria dei Miracoli : The narrow, tall nave has a raised altar so that everyone can see the venerated painting of the Virgin

5-10 min away

Santa Maria dei Miracoli

San Zaccaria : The flooded 10th-century Romanesque crypt

5-10 min away

San Zaccaria

Riva degli Schiavoni : The monumental waterfront is constantly bustling with crowds, especially the closer you get to the Doge's Palace

5-10 min away

Riva degli Schiavoni

More like this

Inspired by Libreria Acqua Alta? Discover more family-friendly places in Venice:

Da Vinci Interactive Museum : The room with flying machines

Da Vinci Interactive Museum

San Barnaba : The sheer array of contraptions under one roof is nothing short of overwhelming

San Barnaba

Natural History Museum : During the early 1700s, the 'rooms of wonders' became popular for showcasing collections of creatures rarely seen by Venetians at that time

Natural History Museum

Vintage Toys : The giant Grendizer robot

Vintage Toys

Parco delle Rimembranze : The park is characterized by its unique umbrella pine trees, which offer a shaded retreat in the midst of a bustling urban setting

Parco delle Rimembranze

Carlo Goldoni's House : One of the last puppet theatres - that were once common in the patrician houses of the 18th century- with its authentic collection of marionettes

Carlo Goldoni's House

Murano : The Clock Tower and Rio dei Vetrai mark the center of Murano

Murano

Santi Maria e Donato : The entire church floor unfolds as one uninterrupted mosaic

Santi Maria e Donato

Music Museum : Three cellos stand majestically in front of the altar

Music Museum

And more indoor sites in Venice with free entry:

San Pantalon : The church is renowned for its vast ceiling painting

San Pantalon

Venetian Arsenal : The twin towers guarding the original main waterway entrance

Venetian Arsenal

Music Museum : Three cellos stand majestically in front of the altar

Music Museum

La Salute : Because of its octagonal design, no matter where you stand, you’ll only ever see three of its facades at once

La Salute

San Giorgio Maggiore : On its small island as seen from across the lagoon from Punta della Dogana

San Giorgio Maggiore

San Nicolò dei Mendicoli : Gold leaf decorates not just frames but even the arches of stone columns — a lavish expense for a modest community

San Nicolò dei Mendicoli

San Moisè : The impressive altarpiece combines frescoes, sculptures and rocks to depict Moses receiving the Ten Commandments from God

San Moisè

San Salvador : Titian’s 'Transfiguration of Christ' graces the high altar

San Salvador

San Giacomo di Rialto : The large 24-hour clock makes the church easily identifiable, once you cross the Rialto Bridge

San Giacomo di Rialto

Rialto Market : The Pescheria (fish market) in the morning

Rialto Market

Santa Maria dei Miracoli : The narrow, tall nave has a raised altar so that everyone can see the venerated painting of the Virgin

Santa Maria dei Miracoli

San Zaccaria : The flooded 10th-century Romanesque crypt

San Zaccaria

Santa Maria del Giglio : Today, the facade remains one of the finest examples of Venetian Baroque architecture

Santa Maria del Giglio

Santa Maria Formosa : The luminous interior features a main altar flanked by large archways that open fluidly into the lateral chapels

Santa Maria Formosa

Santa Maria dei Carmini : The friezes on both sides of the clerestory walls depict a total of 24 scenes related to Carmelite subjects

Santa Maria dei Carmini

San Polo : The Oratory of the Crucifix displays the 14 Stations of the Cross, which were painted by Giandomenico Tiepolo during his early twenties

San Polo

San Giacomo dall'Orio : The beautifully painted cupolas above the right altar

San Giacomo dall'Orio

San Sebastiano : The bright interior is adorned with works by Veronese

San Sebastiano

Madonna dell'Orto : The 'Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple' was initially created as two vertical halves, a fact easily noticeable at the bottom, particularly in the child's dress

Madonna dell'Orto

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