Acqua Alta bookstore in Venice hit by tide, lost thousands of books

Among the places of culture most affected by the flooding of Venice is the celebrated Libreria Acqua Alta, a destination for many readers who love the atmosphere of this extraordinary bookshop opened in 2004 by Luigi Frizzo: a bookstore at the water’s edge, with a door that opens onto the rio de la Tetta, a staircase made of books to enjoy an unusual view of the canals, a gondola laden with books that welcomes visitors inside, the smell of humidity, the knowledgeable staff, the many out-of-print books and publications on the history of Venice that cannot be found anywhere else. And then the name, “Acqua Alta,” so associated with the uniqueness of the city. This time, however, high water plagued the bookstore, which lost so much.

“It’s been a drama here, as everywhere else in the city,” Diana told us in a phone interview, very quickly because obviously now the concern of responding to reporters is secondary to other priorities. So many books have been destroyed by the fury of the water, “we are still counting,” Diana declares, “and still we are talking about an amount of thousands of books lost.” This includes both new books and old editions. Yet even in this context, the bookstore wants to see the bright side: “we have been lucky because today students from every school and every university faculty have come to help us out.” Without the volunteers, indeed, it would have been much more difficult.

In the meantime, the bookstore has cashed in on the solidarity and “good luck” of so many customers as well as book and culture lovers from all over the world: among the many was singer-songwriter Francesca Michielin, who wrote on her Twitter profile “I studied in Venice and I love this city, especially for the Libreria Acqua Alta where I spent so many hours between literature and music. This place dear to me is now flooded with water and so many of the books have been destroyed. A loss for everyone, for our heritage.” Still, the owners have not lost heart and the bookstore is already ready again to welcome customers, citizens and tourists.

Pictured: the flooded Acqua Alta Bookstore. Ph. Credit Jack Fairey

Acqua Alta bookstore in Venice hit by tide, lost thousands of books

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