Commonly referred to as “the bookshop with the book steps”, the Libreria Acqua Alta was such a unique spot to visit. Whenever I plan my trips, I tend to head to instagram to find some cool places. This shop kept coming up featuring the iconic book steps. However, what you usually don’t see is the unique shop in front of this instagram must. 

The Shop

The moment you walk in, you can tell it is such a unique and fun shop that was larger than I thought. The main feature when you walk in is a real gondola boat filled with  books. To add to this, they also filled some bathtubs, canoes and a boat. My favorite part were the resident cats. They were so calm and cute sleeping amongst the piles. They also carried some typical souvenirs and guidebooks, so you could pick up some useful items.

The Books

There are so many books to choose from! Books coated every nook of the store reaching heights taller than you could reach. With both new and used, books could be found in so many different languages, despite a large chunk being Italian. As an architect, there were so many book I wanted to get. There was an extensive collection of art history and design books covering anything you could think of.

One part of the store which I really enjoyed was the courtyard. It was an open air spot where you could sit and flip through some potential books surrounded by plants and a book wall.

The Book Steps

Of course there is the iconic book steps. I went to store after a few hours of rain so the books were still soggy. The area is a bit tight, so it was hard to get the full shot as my DSLR is not full frame. The area opens up at the back of the shop, with some benches in front to sit and watch the people. Even in August there were not too many people coming and going, so you won’t have to worry about a line like some other “insta spots”.

At just a 7 minute walk west from the Rialto Bridge, it is definitely a spot worth seeing! Find it at; Calle Lunga Santa Maria Formosa, 5176, 30122 Venezia VE, Italy