If you are looking for a truly Venetian itinerary, we will take you on a discovery of some of the most beautiful Venetian bookstores and libraries
Sullaluna
Along the Fondamenta della Misericordia stands Sullaluna, an independent bookstore and bistro, a beloved spot for Venetians, mothers, and children, where you can read any of the books while enjoying breakfast, snacks, aperitifs, and even vegan lunches.
Francesca and Rodolfo have created a locus amoenus in the historic center of Venice. On grandmother-style tables, you can find illustrated books, graphic novels, cookbooks, comics, and books on graphic design and cuisine to browse while tasting organic cakes and biscuits, teas and infusions, buffalo mozzarella on wood-fired crostini, natural wines, or the prosecco Lunatico of their own production.
It is also the ideal place to spend an afternoon with children, thanks to the creativity workshops and other initiatives organized regularly.
Sullaluna – Fondamenta della Misericordia 2535, Cannaregio
Tel. +39 041 722924
www.sullalunavenezia.it
Instagram and Facebook
Libreria Toletta
Toletta is the oldest bookstore in Venice. Alongside new releases and bestsellers, thousands of “backlist” books from publishers such as Einaudi, Adelphi, Laterza, Mondadori, Rizzoli, Bompiani, Longanesi, SE, Abscondita, Marsilio, and many others are displayed.
Under the SpazioEventi banner, the bookstore organizes various cultural meetings in Venice: book presentations, debates, and conferences. La Toletta is also a publishing house, with titles ranging from history to fiction, with a particular focus on themes related to Venice.
Libreria Toletta – Dorsoduro 1213
Tel. 041 5232034
Email: info@libreriatoletta.it
Website: www.latoletta.com
Instagram and Facebook
Sleeping in a library
A spectacular balcony with golden columns runs along the entire upper part of this hotel room on the Grand Canal, which houses 10,000 antique volumes, the precious collection of a patrician family. You have seen it in our videos: it is the Library Suite at Ca’ Sagredo Hotel.
Perfectly preserved, the imposing 18th-century Library in white and light green wood with golden carvings has been declared a National Monument and can be booked for a unique experience.
Ca’ Sagredo
Campo Santa Sofia 4198/99 – Ca’ D’Oro
Telephone +39 0412413111
info@casagredohotel.com
www.casagredohotel.com
Libreria Bertoni
The Libreria Bertoni continues a family tradition spanning three generations.
Founded in 1935, the bookstore in Calle della Mandola specializes in out-of-print or rare books and also offers a wide selection of art, illustrated, and Venetian-themed volumes.
San Marco 3637/B
Tel. +39 041 5229583
Email: info@bertonilibri.com
Website: www.bertonilibri.com
Facebook
Libreria Acqua Alta
Beloved as a symbol of Venice’s resilience and for the magic of its spaces, the Libreria Acqua Alta is one of the most scenic and photographed bookstores in the world, the queen of Instagram and a favorite spot for travel bloggers looking not for books, but for impactful images.
There are no shelves or racks, but rather gondolas, canoes, small boats, and tubs—all strategic solutions to protect the many volumes from the water. The staircase of books allows customers to enjoy the view of the Venetian canal and the palace where Hugo Pratt set one of the stories of Corto Maltese.
Libreria Acqua Alta – Calle Lunga Santa Maria Formosa 5176/B – Castello
Tel. 041 2960841
Cafoscarina
Anyone who has had the good fortune to study in Venice has certainly entered the world of the Cafoscarina bookstore.
Both a bookstore and a publishing house, it is primarily dedicated to university texts, many of which are the result of research by Ca’ Foscari professors.
Dorsoduro, 3259
Tel 041.2404802
Email: ordini@cafoscarina.it
Website: www.cafoscarina.it
Facebook
DO.VE.
DO.VE. was founded in Venice, a social promotion association conceived by the business owners of Dorsoduro to serve residents, shopkeepers, artisans, and all those who love the city. This group of entrepreneurs and residents from the western area of Dorsoduro felt the need to show the true face of the city.
Photographer Matteo de Mayda captured the fragile and suspended atmosphere in which the city and its inhabitants found themselves during the night between November 12 and 13, 2019, the night of the Acqua Granda. From this, the book Era mare was born, which questions the future of Venice and seeks to help it by donating all proceeds from sales to the DO.VE. cultural association, which has created a network of commercial activities and private individuals committed to the protection and enhancement of the territory.
On the project website, it is possible to purchase a copy and make a donation.
Do.Ve.
Dorsoduro, Venice
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Library of the Fondazione Querini Stampalia
For Venetians, the Querini Stampalia is much more than a library. It is a meeting place for generations of students studying for their final exams or university tests, an exhibition center for contemporary arts, and a reference point for architecture due to the significant interventions by Carlo Scarpa, Valeriano Pastor, and Mario Botta.
A stimulating and functional setting for study, thanks above all to the availability of 350,000 volumes including ancient works and modern books, and the collaboration with the Venice Library Network.
The library is open free of charge to everyone (those under 16 must be accompanied by an adult) until evening and on public holidays, with Wi-Fi access available for use with your own computer.
Fondazione Querini Stampalia
Santa Maria Formosa
Castello 5252, Venice
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The photos are by Lorenzo Cinotti @Celestalis, Riccardo Rizzetto @riccardorizz, and Laura Scarpa for Venezia da Vivere, and Matteo de Mayda. The photos of Sulla Luna are courtesy of Nicoletta Fornaro, a talented Venetian food blogger and photographer who runs the delightful www.naturallyepicurean.org.
