5 Essential book-stops in Venice
Whether you are first time visitor, or you call Venice your second home, there is always something unique to discover in local bookshops.
If you favor choosing your next book companion by the booklet, momentary mood or recommendation, I am sure you will get a pleasant experience or a new story in some of these places.
Let me show you 5 interesting places in Venice if you like to read, explore, research or simply get lost among imagination.
1. Libreria Studium
Calle Larga S. Marco, 337, 30124 Venezia VE
Little place filled with good books and fragrance of pages.
Book shop just behind the "back"of Basilica San Marco. You can find here different types of literature, I recommend this place if you like to grab some history or culture Venice connected books.
Books in different languages, also tour guides and maps if you would need them. I like that they keep there "easy" educational reading, but also more specified history books. Friendly staff is willing to help even if you just give them keywords and share your preferences and smile a bit :)
2. Bertoni Venice Library Calle de la Mandola, 3637, 30124 Venezia VE
Proper second-hand bookshop!
Place filled with piles of interesting books. You would like title, authors, and if you would not understand language, in which the books are written, you would like it because it will be filled with interesting images. All kinds of genres, lots of architecture, movies ( I found there also very detailed Charlie Chaplin book with stunning photos from his various movies) or fashion, design.
If you will have troubles to find your favorite book, Mr. selling / or even owning the place ( ?) will be willing to help and you can enjoy an enjoyable conversation with him. There are always some kinds of discounts, so don´t bring too heavy luggage with you to Venice, you might need some space
3. Libreria Toletta Sacca della Toletta, 1214, 30123 Venezia VE
Modern Italian literature, but also world classics.
Big selection of book and genres, also in foreign languages. This is a good place to get your paperback novel or fresh translations of books which you can enjoy for example while relaxing on Lido or traveling in vaporetto.
4. Libreria Marcopolo Sestiere Dorsoduro, 2899, 30123 Venezia VE http://www.libreriamarcopolo.com/
Place where one can explore books by independent publishers.
Well organized bookshop having its unique style and taste. Beautiful display and retail of literature related goods, that can be also meaningful "souvenirs". Truly a place of "indie" culture, also the place of events and small cultural gatherings. This store is located in an area which is famous for student life, so you cannot escape the spirit of exploration here. Store´s communication with the extern world also via https://www.instagram.com/lepancherosse.dellamarcopolo/, where you can see if it is one of your kind.
5. Libreria Acqua Alta Calle Longa S. Maria Formosa, 5176/b, 30122 Castello, Venezia VE https://www.facebook.com/libreriaacquaalta/
Scenographic connection of books, Venice, water and obviously good sense of humor and in the end, the best marketing and fabulous books!
This is Libreria Aqua Alta, the one you have seen on Instagram, the one with "gondola inside".
I would believe recently this has been the most photographed bookstore in Venice. Why?
Because taking pictures is not forbidden there and morover, funny handwritten sign at the entrance announcing "Welcome to the most beautiful bookshop in the world " is simply promising. I believe visitors of bookshop leave there not only hashtag but also leave with their favorite second hand book. There is everything.
Comics, Baroque theatre, anything you can imagine. Small goods, such as postcards or posters are also available there, so you can observe, gaze and still support the shop with a few euros if you don´t want to carry away heavy kilos of book. Here I would like to keep a note, that even Venice is truly tourist trap for lots of people, there is possibility for local people to use Venice´s disadvantages into something special and to create spectacular memory for their "audience".
In this case it is place filled with books, and because it is set low just on the sea level, during aqua alta it is filled with water.
Therefore, gondola in the middle of the space filled with books is interesting decoration, but also thing to see and to remember. Just as a new attraction that people of the world are willing to see and Venice is proper location for it.
Dear readers, there is still more bookshops and places selling books in Venice. I will be happy if this text will lead you to find interesting place to get books. I am also happy if you will discover your own favourite secret little gems and will fill your days with interesting reading. What would be another step is to write your own texts, notes, memoirs.