Content provided by British Council
[1] In an increasingly digital age, physical bookstores have become more than just places to buy books. They offer something that online shopping and e-books can’t quite replicate – the experience of discovery. Here are some bookstores around the globe that are must-visit destinations for any bibliophile.
Livrario Lello (Porto, Portugal)
[2] The historic bookstore is truly spectacular and is one of Porto’s most famous landmarks. Due to its popularity, making a reservation is highly recommended. Opened in 1906, the bookstore features an impressive exterior facade, but the real marvel awaits inside. It’s difficult to capture the awe of the sweeping staircase, the carved woodwork, the elaborate bookshelves and the stunningly large stained-glass ceiling.
[3] One of the most popular and misunderstood parts of the Lello story is its association with the Harry Potter books. Though it may look as though it could have inspired Hogwarts or a wizarding bookshop, given that JK Rowling lived in Porto in the early 1990s, the author confirmed that the claim is part of the lore. This, however, hasn’t stopped Harry Potter fans from stopping by the bookstore.
Shakespeare and Company (Paris, France)
[4] The literary landmark located on the Left Bank of the Seine is situated directly across from Notre-Dame. The current bookstore was opened in 1951 by American George Whitman, who envisioned it as a space where readers, writers, travellers and dreamers could come together. This bookstore is renowned for nurturing many literary icons of the 20th century. Visitors can explore narrow staircases, hidden reading nooks and thousands of volumes contained within a cosy, intimate environment.
Libreria Acqua Alta (Venice, Italy)
[5] Opened in 2002 by Luigi Frizzo, it is one of Venice’s most whimsical and photographed bookstores. It takes its name from acqua alta, the Italian term for Venice’s periodic high-water flooding. Books are piled into gondolas, small boats and bathtubs – both a practical response to rising water and an irresistibly Venetian bit of theatre.
[6] The venue’s “Follow the Books” staircase is actually made from hundreds of discarded books destined for recycling. Visitors are welcome to climb the staircase for a view of the Venetian canals. Another quirky feature is the number of cats wandering among the stacks of books, affectionately known as the bookstore’s guardians.
Word on the Water (London, UK)
[7] How unique is a floating bookstore located on a 1920s barge? Moored along London’s Regent’s Canal in King’s Cross and nearby Granary Square, the historic vessel turned bookstore is packed with second-hand books. The atmosphere is a huge part of the attraction, with its old wooden shelves, antique furnishings and a wood-burning stove to ward off London’s chilly, overcast days. The barge also doubles as a small literary and cultural venue, its rooftop hosting live music, poetry readings and open-mic sessions.
Source: Tribune News Service, October 14
