A gondola in a bookstore - Libreria Acqua Alta, Castello

In Venice, there’s a surprise around every corner. 

My husband and I are incapable of walking past bookshops, so of course we had to stop to take a look at this sale table outside a shop in Calle del Tintor in Castello:

Entry to the Libreria Acqua Alta bookshop in Castello, Venice

We were lured further inside the shop by the sight of three majestic cats, one guarding the cash register, the other the entry to the shop, and the other stalking around.

I was on the hunt for any out of print books or books of poems by Diego Valeri that I could find. 

Imagine my surprise to find a full-size gondola in the middle of a bookshop. Complete with costumed mannequins inhabiting the gondola..

Inside the Libreria Acqua Alta in Castello, Venice

The shop was filled with books, old and new, esoteric titles, mainstream titles, reference books, books in French, books in Italian, books in German, books in English – books, books, books!

Inside Libreria Acqua Alta, Castello, Venice

At the proud encouragement of the store owner, I ventured into the courtyard to find a staircase made of books.

Staircase made of books at Libereria Acqua Alta, Castello, Venice

And the symbol of St Mark:

The courtyard of Libreria Acqua Alta, Castello

I looked up to observe the interesting construction and design of the homes around the courtyard:

Courtyard inside Libreria Acqua Alta, Castello, Venice

And then I ventured back inside to find this iconic view of the bookshop and its neighbouring canal:

Inside Libreria Acqua Alta, Castello

I didn't find any out of print books by my beloved Diego Valeri, but we did buy some prints and enough heavy books to warrant a trip back to our accommodation!